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B-town boys Swim Deep deliver their debut album that is too comparable to the British summertime. When it is nice it is thoroughly lovely but at times it is quite disappointing, just when you want it to be good.
Swim Deep are one of the buzz bands of the moment and debut album Where The Heaven Are We is a set of 11 dreamy tracks filled with the ideas of 90’s kids. This new wave of songwriters that speak about the dreamy days and the search for something that was never there is epitomised by the albums real opener ‘Francisco.’
Frontman Austin Williams swoons his way through the album, awash in dreams and hopes as he declares “I wanna be everything that I’m not” on the brilliant ‘King City.’ Neat and catchy riffs define the best songs on the album but it is the synth-friendly ‘Honey’ that will be the standout song for passing listeners.
Watch the video for 'King City below
Unfortunately though, just as things are looking bright and sunny the proverbial heavens open with a trio of tracks that just don’t quite cut it. ‘Red Lips I Know’, ‘Soul Trippin’ and Stray’ are not bad songs, they don’t even stray that far from the musical formula that works so well for the band on other tracks, they are just not as good as they can be.
Sandwiching these tracks are the two album highlights. Previous single ‘The Sea’ with its sensual guitar intro and a flurry of “Oooooos” and “Aaaaahhhs” is a real gem that is only bettered by the album closer’ She Changes the Water.’ The distorted piano intro gives way to sultry mix of indie brilliance and leaves the album on a good note.
Watch the video for 'The Sea' below
Where The Heaven Are We is a promising debut from Swim Deep, the potential is there for all to see it just hasn’t been harnessed as well as it could have been. A special note also should be made about the album’s bonus track ‘Crush’, a song which makes it worth getting the bonus edition a worthwhile decision and also leaves this reviewer baffled as to why it is not on the album proper.
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