Time Well
Time Well finds Cloakroom making more room for the softer side of their music. The distorted guitars remain substantial, but quieter singing, acoustic details and slower development are just as important. The band sound comfortable inside this wider setting. The challenge is keeping the long sequence moving when so much of its character depends on a similar, subdued mood.
Gone But Not Entirely takes its time to establish the record. The drums provide a simple starting point before the arrangement develops around them. Big World brings more guitar weight, while Concrete Gallery keeps a firm, recurring pattern beneath Doyle Martin's sombre voice.
Seedless Star supplies one of the stronger changes. Its denser guitar sound and more active playing give the song a firmer presence, before distortion and a quieter piano passage change the setting. Cloakroom make the contrast useful by allowing both sides enough time to register.
The Sun Won't Let Us Go is effective for different reasons. Acoustic guitar and restrained vocal harmonies provide a gentler foundation, with the surrounding electric sounds adding space. The melodic details feel exposed rather than hidden beneath a wall of noise. It is one of the clearest examples of the band finding strength through holding back.
The title track also draws character from its quieter playing. Strummed acoustic guitar and a brighter lead line sit around the unhurried vocal, giving the song a reflective quality. Sickle Moon Blues brings a country-like touch into a heavier rhythmic setting.
There are stretches where the patience becomes a weakness. Hymnal and parts of Sickle Moon Blues can feel longer than their ideas need, and the full album asks for considerable attention. The consistent vocal delivery and slow pace make some passages blend together. The more subtle arrangements reward care, but the writing does not always justify the length.
Time Well remains an interesting, uneven record with a strong musical identity. Its better songs show that Cloakroom can do more than repeat a large guitar tone. Greater restraint in the overall sequence would make those quieter discoveries stand out more clearly.
