Album Review: Thousand Yard Stare – ‘The Panglossian Momentum’
••• The Panglossian Momentum •••
English band Thousand Yard Stare from Slough, return with a new album titled ‘The Panglossian Momentium’.
The band were massive in the 90s, before the Britpop explosion and having recently reformed to play gigs such as a sellout in London’s Borderline, Nottingham’s Rock City, Wake Up and shiiine On in Butlins.
The bands first EP ‘Weatherwatching’ was released back in 1990, after forming in 1989 on the band’s very own record label Stifled Aardvark’. The following two EP’s ‘Keepsake’ and ‘Seasonstream’ eventually led to the band signing with polydor… this gave Thousand Yard Stare a top 40 single hit with ‘Comeuppance’, their album ‘Hands On’ also climbed into the top 40 a month later in 1992.
The bands intention when reforming in 2015 was a farewell show. However, spurred on by their fans reception Thousand Yard Stare began writing some new material which saw the release of two new EP’s titled ‘Stargrazing’ and ‘Deepgrazing’ in 2017. Now, 27 years later ‘The Panglossian Momentum’ is here.
The band have gone back to were they begun and released the new album on their own label Stifled Aardvark Records rather than Polydor. Singer Stephen Barnes spoke to Under The Radar Magazine on their choice of releasing on their own label and wether the decision was based on past experiences with Polydor.
Stephen:
“No, not really. The Polydor time was not a particularly bad experience, we were mainly left to our own devices anyway. I don’t think they really knew what to do with us, we weren’t the coolest, didn’t fit into any particular scene, we were the runts of the litter if you like. Independence suits us, as we are now existing just for ourselves and those who want our music, there’s no need to add industry layers in. I think those who follow us appreciate that this comes with no spin, or fanfare… It’s just an honest record from an honest band.“
The album itself does echo the distinct sound of 1990s Thousand Yard Stare with ‘It Sparks’ having a similar sound ‘Buttermouth’ to which I got hypnotized with and played on repeat.
The album is a 90s grown-up album, which is what I love. there is the iconic sound of Thousand Yard Stare but more emotional lyrics with Singer Stephen admitting that ‘Spandrels’ is one of the hardest songs he has ever written. In the album, you can detect this and I feel the album gives justice in what he wanted to achieve in others find their own conception within these songs.
This album sounds like it could be the bands first release, it has that air of excitement and is fitting for the times at present. The band refer to it as a sibling to the family and reflects on the band growing older and wiser.
In these times of uncertainty for all of us, bands such as Thousand Yard Stare have provided us with new music… An album launch was due 30th May but unfortunately due to COVID-19, it is very unlikely that this will take place now, however, Thousand Yard Stare seem very positive that the music industry will recover following on from the pandemic and pull together and believe the situation is bringing out the best in people.
(Review by – Tamsin Jones)
‘The Panglossian Momentum’ is released 29th May. Pre-Order here: https://thousandyardstare.bigcartel.com/
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