In July last year, I spoke to the drummer of a Liverpool band that had existed for barely 12 months. He told me that the combined dedication and consistent vision of the members was what had yielded success for them. At that time, Circa Waves had already made an impact with three infectious, guitar-driven singles. Their first single Get Away, had immediately caught my attention; fittingly, this is also the beginning of the story that unfolds throughout their debut album.
For Circa Waves, the past 18 months has been a tremendous experience. A performance at Glastonbury and shows across the world – including a memorable appearance at Splendour in the Grass – have illuminated the band’s recent past. These experiences, and others, have culminated in their debut album, Young Chasers.
To me, Get Away – with its ferocious guitar and relentless drumming – is a reflection of the speed with which Circa Waves’ career has gathered momentum. Young Chasers is exactly the album one would expect from them. Nevertheless, the uncomplicated, consistently fun nature of their music means nought to those who hear a brash and boring collection of indie rock songs. I am not one of those people, but I can also see Circa Waves’ shortcomings.
Overall, Young Chasers is a solid debut record. It is by no means a groundbreaking release, or even a particularly innovative one, but in terms of producing enjoyable and accessible rock music – which I believe has been Circa Waves’ primary intent here – the lads haven’t set a foot wrong. T-Shirt Weather, Fossils and Young Chasers further display their aptitude for appealing songwriting, while Stuck in My Teeth is a definite apex mid-way through the album. Deserve This is a delicate touch on the brake pedal, preventing the album from hurtling out of control, and Talking Out Loud provides a nicely paced outro.
Young Chasers isn’t an album I’ll be raving about this year, but it’s everything I wanted from Circa Waves and definitely merits a place in my iTunes library.