Blending
Blending finds High Vis opening up their sound while keeping the force behind it. The London band's guitars reach towards brighter post-punk and British indie rock, but Graham Sayle still sings as if the words need to get out immediately. The contrast between a welcoming tune and a rough, urgent voice gives the record a character of its own.
Talk for Hours is the clearest introduction. A short burst of noise gives way to a simple, chiming guitar figure that carries much of the song. The chorus is broad and easy to follow, while the playing keeps a sharper edge than the softer tone first suggests. It is a strong example of how the band turn a repeated idea into something substantial.
Fever Dream brings a more swaying rhythm and a brighter guitar colour. It widens the setting without losing the directness of the singing. The music can feel uplifting even when the words remain troubled, which is more interesting than simply placing an angry vocal over another heavy riff.
0151 returns more of that punk force. Sayle's harsher delivery gives the song a firmer attack, while the guitars still leave room for melody. His range matters across the album: he can sound confrontational without making every line feel identical. On Shame, the final track, he moves towards a gentler delivery that gives the ending a more exposed, dreamlike quality.
The bigger approach sometimes goes too far. Join Hands reaches towards a large rock sound without matching the focus of the strongest songs, and some of the writing tries to offer more certainty than its difficult subjects allow. The emotional commitment is clear, but a broad statement does not always land as effectively as a smaller, more direct one.
Still, Blending succeeds at making its different influences feel connected. The brighter melodies do not erase the band's punk background, and the tougher voice does not prevent the music from offering warmth. It is an inviting record for listeners who like post-punk to have both bite and a memorable chorus. High Vis are most convincing when those qualities meet naturally, letting hope and frustration share the same space.
