LIFE - ABSTRACT / NATURAL

Even outside its conceptual beginnings (a literal journey taken by frontman Mez Sanders-Green across the north of England, from coast to coast and back to LIFE’s native Hull), ‘Abstract / Natural’ is a record that likely requires its context to make sense. With it, the jumping between sonic styles - whether the glum croon over slide guitars of ‘Mermaid Feet’, the Interpol-like jangle of ‘1’ or electronic disco beat that propels ‘Turning In’ - are at least offered purpose, and perhaps with even greater explanation may begin to make more sense. 


As it is, without this – and at least, to most with a working knowledge of the band’s presence – the record falls confusingly. Note first that none of the above makes reference to the kind of manic post-punk that allowed the group to break through around a decade ago. Of course, this may be an intentional sidestep for the band – theirs is, after all, a decade during which many a besuited man has opted to spit a list of their, and the world’s, wrongs out into the musical ether. But in turn, this partial departure in place of shift leaves much of this fourth record rudderless. Moreover, when opting to let a little sprechgesang in, such as on ‘The Dollywagon’ and ‘Drinking Games’, it’s less instantly-familiar and instead, well, dated. It pretty much works on the latter, making like a long-lost B-side from 2003 not being a losing game after all. On the former, though, it’s closer to a cliché which often plagues third albums: a blanket of Killers-esque synth sounds over everything, just because. Perhaps a similar ‘just because’ was the point – but between chopping and changing styles and a familiarity that lies not in the band’s catalogue, but in well-trodden sound paths, it’ll take that context to prevent ‘Abstract / Natural’ from being that bit too confusing.