Front cover of ‘Mothers’

by Matthew Langham

Birmingham quintet Swim Deep return with the follow-up to their 2013 debut record Where The Heaven Are We, a modest artistic success which helped the band gain a significant fan base and the attentions of major label Sony, when all things ‘90s were being snapped up left, right and centre. Mothers is a natural continuation from their baggy-influenced debut which featured hit track The Sea’. With the addition of a fifth member, James Balmont, Swim Deep have produced an eclectic album which kicks on from their first effort.

Mothers features every electronic style of the ‘80s and ‘90s period and it shows a distinct maturity from their first effort. ‘To My Brother’ stands out as one of the strongest tracks, coming over as an effortless cross between Tame Impala, The Charlatans and 808 State. ‘Forever Spacemen’ is perhaps one of the boldest and bravest tracks on the album with a deviation towards a Spacemen 3 / Spiritualized psychedelic slant. Suddenly the track bursts into a Sgt. Peppers-style melody highlighting an obvious nod towards Kevin Parker’s Tame Impala. ‘Green Conduit’ and ‘Laniakea’ are the most traditional tracks on the album which feature an acoustic soundscape combined with synths and the hazy vocals of lead singer Austin Williams.

‘Namaste’ and ‘Grand Affection’ mark an obvious turning point for Swim Deep as they delve into commercial pop with ‘80s inspired synths. Whilst these feel like poorly thought out filler tracks, ‘Imagination’ raises with the bar with an early ‘90s Balearic inspired piece of brilliance. Williams’ soul-filled vocals perfectly combine with multiple layers of synth and bass guitar riffs. ‘Fueiho Boogie’ brings the album towards a natural close with its Krautrock inspired rhythm and dark vocals which climax into an electronic explosion.

This is a very different soundscape to their debut and results in a unique record, which although isn’t excellent, demonstrates a willingness to sonically progress from the sun-kissed singles of their debut. Swim Deep would really like to take the listener on a journey, and on first impressions, Mothers doesn’t quite hold together as a full body of work it doesn’t quite have an audible narrative, with a lot of differing strands competing for prominence in the band’s thinking. However, if you listen to each track independently it slowly begins to make sense, and the record should easily find its audience. (7/10)

Listen to Mothers here!