Thieves Like Us - Bleed Bleed Bleed

That first song and title track, no wonder it gets a reprise a bit later on, it just perfectly embodies the aesthetic that is so characteristic of Bleed Bleed Bleed. It’s got this lazy beat, this kind of melancholic and detached feel, but it still manages to pack enough emotional punch so that it does not become a clinical exercise of some sorts. Thieves Like Us embedded this atmosphere into the whole of the album, making it a cohesive whole that you can easily put on for its entire length without craving for “the more poppy singles” or whatever one's fancy is. It's an entity, and even though I reckon not everyone likes these kinds of midnight city albums, if you like that aesthetic, you’re in for a treat with this one.

If an LP has two sides, and on both sides you’ve got five songs, then both parts start with the same song, namely ‘Bleed Bleed Bleed’. I love that decision. It’s got that 3 AM shoegaze shuffle going on with a lazy beat, and both the female and male vocals just fit the song. They’re not the best voices out there, but these rather whispery vocals fit the aesthetic they are going for. Musically it is just very well orchestrated, with the different sounds and instruments, but it is especially impressive how it slides from one part into the other so smoothly. They really have an ear for how to go from point A to point B whilst protecting the essence of the song they’ve created and while keeping it within the aesthetic of the album as well. So what you get are ten songs very much attuned to each other, and every song is a cohesive unit in itself as well.

Second track ‘Stay Blue’ has a bit of a lighter sound to it, even though the lyrics will not be featured in any summer radio hit probably. ‘Still Life’ puts the vocals more upfront, and they do a good job of helping dictate the pace of the song at the start. ‘Fatima’, meanwhile, despite only being three minutes long, has a very patient build-up. And so every song is definitely different, none sound the same, though they all are in keeping with the feel of the album. It also isn’t just one instrument that clearly jumps out, or one typical sound: it really is the atmosphere that binds them all together. ‘Memory Song’ even has something I would consider like a Western type guitar thingy going on there.

This album reminded me of one of my favorite albums of last year (obvious plug coming in 3...2...1..) by Joakim. It has got that same sort of atmosphere in the sound, in the same ballpark lyrically I would say as well, and like the Joakim album I find it best suited for a midnight walk in the city (or whatever you used the Joakim album for). No, it isn’t for everyone. It does not have obvious hooks, no belting vocals, nor is it summery poppy friendly or nice. If you like this kind of aesthetic though, you’re in for a treat, as it is so very well executed. They know what they are good at and just run that play to perfection. I’m especially impressed with how the album actually feels like an album, and how the songs individually are structured. I would say the best album from this band yet, and if you enjoy this kind of sound, it will likely stick in your rotation for quite some time I reckon.