Can Mae do any wrong? ‘Destination: Beautiful’ and its remix follow up were two standout albums by a band that can mix beauty with brains and come out the other end as one of the best upcoming bands in the world. ‘The Everglow’ takes things on several notches further – this is a record that is even more beautiful and even more clever, although one or two of the songs perhaps slip up by being a little too clever for their own good. Either way, this is a monumental record that lives up to every expectation any fans may have had.
‘The Everglow’ isn’t a concept album as such, although the beautiful artwork and spooky ‘Epilogue’ would have you believe the album is more of a musical journey than a simple album release. To an extent the band may be right, as it is very, very easy to lose yourself in them. ‘We’re So Far Away’ starts things off with a piano-led ballad; it’s perhaps not the most obvious way to start the record, but by the time the melodic ‘Someone Else‘s Arms’ and the titanic ‘Suspension’ come round, we’re back in unmistakable Mae territory. The latter two tracks are what the band are really all about – swirling guitars and soaring vocals, perfect for the summer months ahead.
What makes Mae stand out from the pack is their refusal to sound like anyone else. Sure, there are keyboards and lots of catchy choruses, but they do it in a way that many others just cannot manage. Mae are compelling, it’s so easy to get sucked in and sing along and lose track of what you were doing before. ‘Painless’ and the album’s title-track are more of that melodic goodness, but then the band throw in a track like ‘The Ocean’, which is far calmer and almost allows you to get your breath back. The only thing that stops this album from being flawless is the fact that one or two of the songs near the end fall short of the perfection the band seek. ‘Mistakes We Knew We Were Making’ plods a little and the chorus isn’t quite as sharp as they’re known for, but it’s only a minor niggle.
This is one of the best albums released so far this year. It’s catchy and cool, yet very well thought out. From the amazing artwork, which really has had a lot of thought and love put into it, to the 13 songs on this record, the whole package is more than your bog-standard album release. If you’ve not yet checked them out, Mae deserve your attention.
www.whatismae.com
www.theverglow.com
Tooth and Nail
Paul