The second album from Liverpool's The Shipbuilders is an extraordinary listen. Now expanded to a five piece which has allowed the Brass to flourish, the band cross genres aided by a razor sharp production and lyrical sentiments that are adept, worldly and socially conscious.
Listening to the opener, you would be forgiven for thinking the album is Indie goodness. 95 Miles is all Jangle Pop and Hills Of Mexico follows suit with its Guitar Pop feel, built around a terrific riff. This suits Matty Loughlin-Day's vocals well.
The closer, Heavy Is The Weight is superb, epic light, brooding and beautifully played, hypnotic and mesmerising. Six minutes long, the last minute and a half being an instrumental when they get as rocky as they ever will.
The real strength though is courtesy of Trumpeter Pete Higham who turns the sound completely to part Tijuana, part early Denys, even a little Jazz. The Single, Daydreaming, sounds as great as ever, a little like a chirpier version of The Coral.
The River is another ace arrangement, almost Folk at times, it would make a great film soundtrack opener. You can imagine Polynesia being sung by Gene Pitney with its easy listening feel. Metempsychosis sounds very 60s European chilled and you think of Lee Van Cleef during Flagpole, a song beautifully written with sentiments I share. Never Trust A Man Flagpole In His Garden sums up where we are currently in the UK.
This Blue Earth is an inventive masterpiece. The sound of a band who knows exactly what they are about. An ability to mix Guitar Pop and Folk with Easy Listening mixed with big Brass arrangements and more than a little Scouse Scally Pop. Those Arrangements!!! Absolutely wonderful album!
You can listen to and buy the album here. It is available on Vinyl, CD and as a download. You can find out more about The Shipbuilders here.
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