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Review: Lower Than Atlantis – Changing Tune [Album]

Island Records // "A successful follow up to World Record; They've kept their style, humour and passion whilst refining certain elements..."

by Candi H, October 6th, 2012 and has been Read 3916 times.
Last Edited by: Jack Stovin October 10th, 2012.

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The crown for my favourite British alternative-rock band is forever changing hands. Last year, Lower Than Atlantis just stole it with their amazing sophomore album, World Record. It was a haven of raw, memorable and melodic rock gems that I'm still to this day growing more and more attached to with every listen. And now the Watford quartet have faced the arduous beast that is the tricky 3rd album. Well Changing Tune, which was released Oct 1st, may complete a trio of full-length releases for the band who have been around since 2007, but it's their first with a major label. And therefore for some (sadly) the first time they’ve ever even heard of the band. Completed by vocalist/guitarist Mike Duce, bassist Dec Hart, drummer Eddy Thrower and guitarist Ben Sansom, the gang holed up in the famous Rockfield Studios in Wales and carefully carved out their new twelve-track opus. Or a whopping seventeen if you end up with the deluxe edition, which also comes with a neat little tour documentary called On Our Terms. With a tagline of “Four lads. Three years. A lot of gin. Shit loads of countries. Zero fucks given” it says it all; unashamedly frank as I’ve always known them.

“You can make charts and we will play. You reminisce about the industry yesterday. You haven’t got much to say, so we will take what you give and we’ll do what we’re doing anyway.”

And so their cheeky Brit wit thankfully doesn’t appear to have changed, but with big backing and big bucks behind them this time around, the question is, has it actually changed their tune? Well with World Record producer John Mitchell (You Me At Six, Enter Shikari) back in the chair, and after multiple plays I can say that it hasn’t. Well, not entirely. Take latest single ‘Love Someone Else’ for example; it bounds like a deer in spring with a glowing pop-punk guitar melody sitting under a gloriously upbeat rhythm and a dangerously catchy chorus that hits again and again. It’s definitely Lower Than Atlantis but it’s more polished, super-charged and...friendly. Basically if any track was going to pull in new fans, this would be the honey to the bee. Followed by ‘Move Along’, it’s a little more downbeat and not quite as memorable. However frontman Mike’s ever illustrious, exposed lyrics always ring true – “You can make charts and we will play. You reminisce about the industry yesterday. You haven’t got much to say, so we will take what you give and we’ll do what we’re doing anyway.”

WATCH // Lower Than Atlantis - 'Love Someone Else':

And that’s something that I’ve always particularly loved about these guys; their leaders’ way with words. And so it’s ironic that 'Wars With Words' is about not being able to pen a song. “Hopefully the melody accompanied by phrasing and delivery should be enough. It’ll have to be because I’m giving up!” the singer frustratingly blurts in the catchy refrain. At just under two minutes, it’s a brief but spunky tune that confirms that even under a major label umbrella, they’ve still been “allowed” to include something as spontaneous as this. Future single material comes in the form of the impressive 'Go On Strike' with its openly poppy quality and uncharacteristically but welcome optimistic outlook. Although at a predictable point on Changing Tune, midway through we get the gentle and acoustic ballad, 'Scared Of The Dark'. Featuring lovely backing vocals from Madeline Poncia of Brighton’s Dear Prudence, in true Lower Than Atlantis fashion it's an honest tune that has a charming naivety much like mate’s Deaf Havana exude - “And I’m embarrassed to say that I’m still scared of the dark at my age...”

WATCH // Lower Than Atlantis - 'Go On Strike':

A 180° turn comes in the grungy and dark 'Normally Strange' which harks back to the band’s grittier debut Far Q. Dec’s killer low and resonating bassline opens the track and instantly creates a Smashing Pumpkin-esque ominous air and it climaxes with a downright dirty breakdown. The mood lightens with funnily enough a break-up tale in 'Something Better Came Along' and what sounds like will be a live smash, ‘PMA’. The first has an intro that reminded me instantly of The Cranberries 'Dreams'; the swirling soft vocal melody eerily similar. Mike’s tormented words build power and become more forthright as the chorus hits – “Now you’re dead to me, a distant memory. Will you remember my name when you’re grey and old? When something better came along”

The second has “crowd-pleaser” written all over it with a bold permanent marker. Bouncy, loud and assertive; it’s a definite highlight. Eddy’s crashing cymbals sound particularly powerful and commanding next to Ben and Mike’s chunky riffery. Another massive sure-fire hit is ‘Cool Kids’ with more smart alec quips; this time poking fun at certain folk. Line’s like “I’m getting cooler every day. We’re listening to 90’s bands; if the singer’s not dead it’s not good” and “There’s this coffee place I go. Cappamochalattechino. Ciao Bambino!” triggered chuckles all round. And the music is pretty special too; equal amounts of gritty alt-rock crunch and slick production making for an overall sumptuous sound. They keep up the fiery diatribe with the aptly named ‘I Know A Song That Will Get On Your Nerves’; an up-tempo punk injection that’s fast and aggressive, and that anger flows straight into ‘Showtime’ which ends the standard tracklist with a big fat full stop.

Lower Than Atlantis have kept their style, humour and passion whilst refining certain elements and smoothing out some creases with the help of their new “friends”

To briefly explore the best of the deluxe edition’s material – there’s ‘Counting Sheep’; a lumber-paced but hugely passionate account of the singer struggling to sleep, strangely enough (“Fighting the night by writing lyrics describing the act of sleep depriving”) ‘Soul Doubt’ has that older Lower Than Atlantis punk-influenced sound with heavier riffs and a generally more raw sound. And winning single 'If The World Was To End' sits comfortably at the end. Released right on the cusp of the band’s new label deal in January, both song and music video are a brilliant nod to the genius ’98 Jim Carrey flick, The Truman Show. Their take on the "big brother is watching" story is set on a Watford housing estate with Mike playing Jim - “I’m the leading role in my own show and my secrets have been revealed” he anxiously deliberates in one verse before repeated “Na na na na” shout-a-longs kick in bringing it to a close.

WATCH // Lower Than Atlantis - 'If The World Was To End':

Changing Tune is a great and successful follow up to World Record. Lower Than Atlantis have kept their style, humour and passion whilst refining certain elements and smoothing out some creases with the help of their new “friends”. But is it BETTER than World Record? I’m not entirely convinced just yet. However it’s hugely enjoyable and has triggered bigger smiles with every spin. They remain one of the hardest working and freshest British alt-rock exports. “Our situation’s changed; the message stayed the same. Throughout it all ambitions strong” they state in ‘Soul Doubt’; reassuring us that despite worldwide fame now knocking on their door, they will always remain the four grounded lads from Watford. Zero fucks given.

Lower Than Atlantis' new album Changing Tune is out now.

Tracks worth listening to...

• Love Someone Else
• Go On Strike
• Normally Strange
• PMA
• Cool Kids