Music > Album Reviews

Tall Ships - Impressions

22/03/17

It is five years since Brighton-based Tall Ships launched their debut Everything Touching. Despite calling in briefly at Norwich's Waterfront Studio late in 2015, there was still no new album on the horizon. In the record business, that's often long enough to call off the search party and sound the musical equivalent of the Lutine Bell. But fear not. Tall Ships are back, and Impressions is a testament to their powers of resilience and determination. Self-recorded at keyboard player Jamie Field's Devon studio, the nine tracks are threaded together with a driving force that underlines an honesty borne out of loss and hope.

Opening with the majestic Road Not Taken, each song builds from foundations built of strong melody and heartfelt lyrics, with Ric Phethean's vocals neatly cued up and awaiting to be driven along by Matt Parker's bass and Jamie Bush's drums. Crescendos and climactic destinations are a feature throughout, none more so than in Home and Day by Day, whilst Meditations of Loss soars with an urgency that reminds of The Police's Synchronicity II, but with less darkness or sinister portent.  The resultant opus is a slab of well crafted pop, watertight and ready to navigate our summer playlists.

8/10