Spokes - Everyone I Ever Met

Would it be patronising to describe a band’s sound as ‘nice’? If not then Manchester quintet Spokes would certainly fit the bill. Their deeply inoffensive collage of shifting musical styles has its feet planted securely on the ground. Whereas once their sights were set firmly on the stratosphere (see the soaring melodies on mini album ‘People Like People Like You’), ‘Everyone I Ever Met’ is a reigned in affair.

Mixing elements of shoe gazing indie rock with the occasional dash of post-rock, their simple songs need time to grow through repeated listens. Repetition is the key here; looped harmonies vie against chanted vocals which may be the bands weakest point, with blink-and-you’ll-miss-it hushed whispers and the unsettling feeling that the band seems intent on making a chill out album.

On the plus side however are the melodies – luscious pieces of sound that walk a careful line between subtle melancholy and optimism. ‘Happy Needs Colour’ starts sweetly enough, its twinkling and sombre piano is deceptive in that it leads you gradually into a beautiful wall of noise that typifies Spokes on the album. Charming pop melodies sit side by side to create a feeling of satisfaction last seen on the Arcade Fire’s ‘Funeral’ – ‘Peace Racket’ and ‘Canon Grant’ owe a great deal to the aforementioned. Yet the band never quite attain the same level of epic-ness that the Arcade Fire pull off so effortlessly.

Opting to stay within those safer boundaries of shoe gazing indie pop, tracks like ‘Sun It Never Comes’ hold back would could have been a very strong album.