Quivers - Golden Doubt

 

Golden Doubt is a master class in writing and performing Indie Pop. After hearing the opener, Gutters Of Love, you think surely everything else on the album can't be as great, well it is. The concern whenever I see the Indie Pop label, part of me hopes that isn't going to be another earnest twee affair. Again, this isn't any such thing.

The Melbourne based quartet consist of Sam Nicholson, Bella Quinlan, Michael Panton and Holly Thomas. Nicholson is the lead vocalist, but all four sing and this is particularly relevant in the Backing Vocals of Quinlan and Thomas.

This vocal variety and interplay is one of the reasons that the album appeals so much, but the major strength is how the boundaries of the genre are stretched. The band have a reputation for Jangle Pop excellence, but the actual Jangling content here isn't that high.

When it does Jangle on a song like the splendid When It Breaks, it hits the spot and more, but it is the variety that hits home most. The title track is a melancholic man at the piano thing that is very Paul Heaton. You keep expecting it to break out, which thankfully it doesn't. That would just spoil the mood.

Videostores is part nostalgic, part regret and chugs along and mesmerises and Hold You Back could be Philly Soul. Nostalgia Will Kill You is a gem of a Pop song that would in most cases be the album stand out, but then there is Gutters Of Love.

Everything that you need to know about Quivers is contained in these precious four minutes. Initially, the song sounds very Deacon Blue, but then breaks into an incredibly chipper instrumental break and returns with an all sing along chant. An incredible song on an incredible album that will be up there in the IDHAS Best Of Year. 

You can listen to and buy the album here. You can find out more about Quivers here.

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