Eagulls - Ullages

Ullages follows Eagulls 2014 self-titled album. Where the first record pummels you into willing submission, number two coerces you to the same end, painting a bleak yet compelling portrait of day to day occurrences from the viewpoint of lead singer George Mitchell. Each song feels like a fleeting encounter separate from the other, yet part of some greater whole. The songs grab hold of you before you’ve processed the heavy lyrical content, see White Lie Lullabies‘ “fracture our skulls off the dashboards of stale Sunday Nights just to silence Monday’s cries”. Shoegaze stylings and soaring melodies keep at bay this tide of gloominess first demonstrated on album number one. Early big hitters including the lyrically striking Euphoria and lament-like Velvet are followed latterly in the album by the brilliant Skipping, and Lemontrees which is reminiscent of The Cure. This album wouldn’t be out of place in the ‘80’s post punk scene and demonstrates Eagulls' outstanding musicianship. Though not all songs quite reach these highs, it’s refreshing to hear a band push themselves. In Ullages the band have created something sonically different to their earlier material, whilst keeping their identity with its atmospheric similarity. This is some essential listening from an increasingly important band.