Mazes - Ores & Minerals
- Written by Rob Barker
In the current mix of biting cold and miserable gloom, it might seem as though summer is a lifetime away. But you would hardly know that from Mazes, who, with their previous output in the form of A Thousand Heys, managed to inject a dose of sunshine into rain-soaked Manchester days. Nearly two years later and it seems as though little has changed in the lives of Conan Roberts (bass), Neil Robinson (drums) and Jack Cooper (guitars / vocals), because Ores and Minerals follows in the sunny footsteps of its predecessor.
The band claim to be influenced by '80's and '90's alternative rock, and don’t get me wrong, that’s apparent; with clean, melodic vocals layered over loose, fuzzy guitar lines. The more obvious comparison though is with '60's psychedelia and '70's garage rock. From the distorted guitar tones and almost prog-like keyboards to the Beach Boys style vocals and extended jam at the end of the album-opening ‘Bodies’, Ores and Minerals is something of a retrospective, just from a different point of view.
By having such a clear identity to its sound, the album lends itself well to providing a form of ambience, no song in particular stands out, with each instead forming a part of a whole. It’s a soundtrack to afternoon drinks in the sun, watching the world go by with the feeling that Mazes are an integral part of the whole experience.
If I had to choose one standout track then I can’t help but feel like I’d be missing the point, it’s clear that Ores and Minerals is meant to be listened to in full, especially with tracks like ‘Significant Bullet’, a 1:11 instrumental track, which sits perfectly in the album, even if it does feel like it could have been destined for greater things. The title track is definitely the most catchy of the bunch, with the chorus showing more pop promise than the others, but what it gains in hooks it loses in atmosphere. Swings and roundabouts ey?
Maybe you’ll have to hope for a freak heatwave; maybe just leave this album off rotation until summer. Alternatively, fill your living room with heat lamps, sand and a paddling pool for an instant summer - or you’ve created an enlarged terrarium. Either way, with this record you’ll have the perfect music for the situation.
Ores & Minerals is out now and is available from amazon