Album Review: Shambolics – Dreams, Schemes & Young Teams
Dreams, Schemes & Young Teams
Shambolics have cultivated one of the most dedicated fanbases around and are about to treat them to one hell of a journey on their debut album ‘Dreams, Schemes & Young Teams’.
After relentless gigging, releasing tune after tune that’s involved some genre-bending along the way which has in turn made the band become stronger and stronger it feels like the perfect time to drop that debut album.
Being Scottish and in an indie band it’s easy to get pigeon holed with the likes of The View, Shambolics will themselves hold them has one of their biggest influences but this album is more than a follow in the footsetps though, this is going be the moment where they will stand shoulder to shoulder with their influences rather than looking up to them.
The reason I mention The View is because of the track ‘Attention‘, Kyle Falconer features on the tune, a true coming of together of two great Scottish bands.
The Shams’ go almost EMO in some parts of the album, the intro for ‘Coming For You’ is very The Offspring like. It’s a very clever tune in the way it sets the atmosphere, in the build up to the chorus it makes you feel a bit on edge and paranoid before bursting into “Run out the back door, get down on the floor.“
When you listen to an album you want a bit of variety but that also runs the risk of being a jumble and a mess. By not rushing the album out Shambolics have nailed this formula and this makes you want to go back to listen over and over.
Every time you do go back to the album a different track will stand out for you. The contrast between their heaviest track on the album ‘Fight Inside’ to their most tender ‘Filth and Scum’ shows the abilities in this band. ‘Fight Inside’ is furious and menacing but ‘Filth and Scum’ is this gentle ballad. ‘Filth and Scum’ is a beautiful tune that demands your full attention and emotions, with a string section gradually appearing before an X Factor worthy, get off your stool key change.
The album even takes a diversion via the 80’s with ‘Fooling You’, this sounds like it is the follow on tune and the later years of the girl from one of Shambolics‘ first tracks ‘When She Goes Home‘. The song is more mature sounding and that gives the feel that so is she, but the lyrics tell the tale that not alot has changed with her and she is still yet to find true love.
‘Influencer’ takes a swipe at what we all see on social media everyday with wannabe celebrities. The pace on this tune is one that will ignite the fans during their live shows, seems to bounce at the perfect tempo for a moshpit.
Like I said earlier, the album is a journey but there is one tune that is a journey all on it’s own. Previously released ‘Losing Your Mind‘ has such a build up it makes this tune so addictive, this is what Shambolics do perfectly, social commentary while setting the atmosphere, by the time it hits the second chorus, the sound is so loud it has you fully captivated.
The album takes a couple of weird stoner like turn, this is weird in a good way though with ‘Tambourine Tam’ the guitar is sounding Santana like on this while ‘Universal Credit‘ combines Sleaford Mods with the interview Trainspotting scene, this scene is also reflected in the official video. ‘Universal Credit‘ touches on the subject of the job centre looking down on Musicians, thinking this isn’t a real job, I’m sure musicians will relate. After some ranting back and forth the chorus hits it perfect with “I don’t need no money, I wanna be happier than you.“
Shambolics have taken over seven years to create this album, this has involved changes in musical style, changes in band members but all that is reflected in this collection of tunes. There is the perfect mix to keep you interested and if you are a first timer the I recommend digging a little deeper into their tunes not on this album and you may have just found you favourite new band.
Pre-Order ‘Dreams Schemes & Young Teams’ here: https://shambolicsmusic.co.uk/collections/dreams-schemes-young-teams
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