An absolute triumph of old school emo from Forres.
Whenever I hear that someone has released a DIY emo EP where they’re the only musician, my head instantly goes to “Lo-fi”. This could be from my years of listening to the likes of Lovers Turn To Monsters, but the new EP from S’ad has forced my mind to go elsewhere in future.
I write this knowing that that no matter what I say, S’ad (Adam Wilson to the taxman) won’t really be that bothered. Upon the release of ‘Introspective Paradise’, he’s put out a six-and-a-half-minute video explaining the origins of the EP and why he won’t be promoting it. It’s not that he’s not proud of it; he’s just discovered – and come to terms with – the fact that his music should be for him first and foremost. The logistics of organising a band, especially around a full-time job as a music teacher, makes immediately touring the EP impractical. Just as well that this EP can do all the talking for him.
The first track ‘Faults’ puts any thoughts of Lo-fi out of your mind. A backbone of clean, dreamy guitar with vocals that are full of a sincere, raw, energy. “Everything is overwhelming, And I can’t get my brain to zero in” – opening lines that set the tone for this EP which Adam states in his video revolve around his adult diagnosis of ADHD. Reminiscent of The Wonder Year’s ‘There There…’ with its apologetic self-deprecation over minimalist guitar, but not lingering on it before exploding into second track ‘After Glow’.
‘After Glow’ puts you on the back foot with how musical this project really is. You’ve been lulled into a false sense of security with Faults and its minimalistic instruments. ‘After Glow’ ambushes you with remarkable drum work and layered vocals covering every inch of the melodic and screamo spectrum. If you didn’t know better, you’d think this was recorded by a band of at least five individuals in a studio funded by a good size label. Not by one guy in Forres, Scotland.
‘Stuck In A Daze’ spreads the influences across the track making it seem a lot longer than it is. Coming in at only 2.55 you can hear ’00s Funeral for a Friend, Hundred Reasons, Alexisonfire, with interjections from A Day to Remember and Finch. This track is definitely the single of the pack. It walks a fine line of being ’00s emo, modern pop-punk and easy-core. Most bands who attempt this tend to alienate fans of the individual genres, but this song has what it takes to pull them together. The blend is just right.
‘Perfect Storm’ starts off with a huge sounding drum intro before pop punk guitars with a more modern tone lead the way for layered vocals a la The Story So Far. The chorus finding harmonies of every vocal line and guitar progression to make a huge wall of sound before dissolving into an outro featuring high bass notes and roomy drums that make you immediately think of the newer (the last fifteen years) Blink 182 material.
Even though the run length of this EP clocks in at just over twenty minutes, we’re given an interlude in the form of ‘Pale Blue Dot’. An instrumental overlaid with the audio version of Carl Sagan’s classic. It feels like we’ve been listening to this EP for much longer than we have been with all of the flavours and influences crammed into the songs, and this track is a welcome calming of the pace.
Penultimate track ‘My Design’ channels all the energy of the era where pop punk and emo melted into one genre. Heartfelt lyrics over screaming emotion and snarling guitars fitting octaves in every gap they can. This is like a throwback but it’s brand new. Imagine finding a pristine bottle of old recipe Irn Bru… or Cremola Foam! They don’t make songs like this any more… thank God S’ad is.
To finish us off there’s ‘ADHD’. It’s not a huge anthem like ‘My Design’. It’s cuddles round the fire as acoustic guitars strum and pluck around each other and Adam pours the last of his feelings out over the top. Complex harmonics and harmonies add a huge depth to the track which is something acoustic songs often lack. Instead of ending the EP with fireworks, we fade out to static and soundbytes of Alan Watts’ The Dream Of Life under a thunderstorm. It’s not a crescendo, but a sigh and pause as it leaves you wanting to hit play again.
This EP is a must have for all those who unashamedly still go on about Drive Thru Records and when this country led the way in its own brand of emo. The production throughout is extraordinary and ‘Introspective Paradise’ is definitely going to age well. Adam may not push the publicity on this record, but I am and I encourage anyone who’s still clinging on to that sweepy fringe to do the same.
Listen on Soundcloud (or Spotify if you must).
More at linktr.ee/theartistsad,