Post War Years - Galapagos Album Review

Post War Years release their second album 'Galapagos', an album crammed with unusual and somewhat aloof song titles. The tracklist includes 'Growl', 'Volcano' and 'God'. The names aid the band's sort-of concept album title about the volcanic islands in the Pacific Ocean - the band have obviously been marvelling in too much David Attenborough. Ultimately, the record screams escapism, linking back to the four-piece's difficult early days as a band moving down to London. But it also has this natural element about this intriguing place, but this could be exaggerated more to give the album a complete sense of Galapagos' spirit. This only really comes in the latter part. Using an 'exotic' place as an album title, Post War Years, who have recently toured with Mumford and Sons, are following the lead of artists like Friendly Fires. 

'The Bell', also the title track of Post War Years' November EP, is the pinnacle. With 80s inspired beats and excited synths, the track springs to life as a dance floor number. If only a few more tracks danced along to its same tune, the rest of the album would have felt a lot more carefree. 'Glasshouse' attempts to do so but even with whirling synths and words about washing hands of love, it just doesn't have the same snappy nature. "Every time you turn your head love will betray you" stands an intense lyric in the theatrical 'Mellotron' while 'Growl' provides a fluid rhythm, which has its comparisons to Foals and The Maccabees. 

Opener 'All Eyes' introduces 'Galapagos' with dizzy experimental drums and screechy accompaniments with a murmured, "You're a cigarette burning" pulling you into the heart of the track. With its gripping canvas of sounds, it would suit to feature on a dramatic episode of 'Made In Chelsea' to kick in after a massive revelation. 

A rumbling initiates 'Lost Winter', a song that does propel the Galapagos idea with adventurous, though-provoking words - "As you enter the murky depths you are crawling with leeches, your blood they're seeking". The flitting drums and some 'ooh ah oooh aahs' litter the fast-paced 'Volcano', giving it animalistic tones. 

Post War Years have provoked some intriguing and very listenable ideas from their minds for this record. In parts, they could have experimented more, the best tracks on here are the ones that bring an alluring aspect and have erupted from a curious angle like 'The Bell', 'Lost Winter' and 'Volcano.' 

Hayley Fox