EP REVIEW: 'Lesson Learnt' by Elasea

It's been almost two years since I reviewed Elasea's first EP, 'Where I Belong', and I'm delighted to have been given the opportunity to review their second EP, which was released mid-March. As I mentioned when I last saw them live, they have been through a couple of line-up changes since the first EP hit the shelves.
But just how much of a difference have those changes made to their sound?
The answer: a heck of a lot.

Elasea are not a band who make the same song twice. When reviewing 'Where I Belong' I was struck by the fact that no two songs sounded the same - not something you often discover on a first release - and they're pushing the boundaries further than ever with this follow-up.

Title track 'Breathe // Lesson Learnt' is a marked departure from their earlier material. Bassist Liv Jones has embraced her role as co-vocalist, singing on most of the songs on this EP, and though Andy Bradford's voice still stands out above everything else, she's certainly giving him a run for his money. There aren't many bands with male/female split vocals around at the moment, and it's a gap in the market that needs filling.
Liv certainly shines on 'Time Stops'. It's the heaviest track on the EP, with an intricate guitar line opening the song over a crushing drum beat. Stripping it back when Andy starts singing gives it an intense atmosphere, and as it builds up to the chorus - in which Andy and Liv both have solo vocal sections - it holds your attention, hard to predict where it's going to go next.

It's impossible to choose a standout track between 'On My Own' and 'Walls'.
I adored 'On My Own' the first time I heard it and it was stuck in my head for weeks after the show, so I'm grateful that I can finally listen to it on repeat! It's Fort Hope-esque, Andy's vocal veering between singing and screaming, adding a tougher edge to the proceedings. Completely unrestrained towards the end of the song, he roars "When it rains it pours/I can't remember what I'm looking for" with such passion that it gives you shivers.
The two are separated by interlude 'These Secrets', the only song worth skipping. It's a surprise compared to the rest of the EP, and although it's reminiscent of Bring Me The Horizon at their softest moments it doesn't do anything for me. Featuring an interlude on an EP bragging only five tracks is a risky move, and sadly this one doesn't add anything. That being said, it's a beautifully chilled out piece when you consider it independently... It just doesn't sound like Elasea, and it doesn't fit with the rest of this collection.
However, it makes closing track 'Walls' even more effective. The band fully embrace their pop-punk side on the song, creating a frenetically catchy riff that just makes you want to dance. The split vocal between Andy and Liv is a particular highlight: their voices complement each other so beautifully, and I'm hoping that Liv continues lending her vocals to their songs in the future, because it gives them an edge. I wish they'd pushed this song further, because it still feels like it could go somewhere and then it finishes. It's not a disappointing closer - the guitar work is brilliant, and it will work perfectly as a set closer in their live shows - but it could have been even bigger.

Elasea are a band who refuse to be pigeonholed. If I had to choose one word to describe this EP, it would have to be varied: Elasea have control over a mixed array of genres, and they consistently try different things and do them successfully. It shouldn't be long until big things happen to this five-piece. They definitely deserve it: they don't rest on their laurels, consistently striving to do bigger and better things.
I can't wait to see what they do next.

Tracklist:
Breathe // Lesson Learnt
Time Stops
On My Own
These Secrets (Interlude)
Walls

Tigercub - The Bullingdon, Oxford, 06/11/16

The last time I saw Elasea was at their headline show in Swindon all the way back in January, and they were the reason I decided to go to this gig. In the last ten months they've been hard at work, finalizing their new line-up (including the addition of Braydie Haskell on keyboard) and working on new material, and this is a much more confident version of the band than the one I saw at the beginning of the year.
The change in vocalist Andy Bradford is astounding. Whereas before he left the majority of the movement to Liv Jones and Calum Radmore, who would spin and jump across the stage in whirlwind of energy, now he's filled with a new lust for life, throwing himself into every song and owning his role as the frontman. It's impossible to choose who to look at when they're all so enthusiastic throughout every second of their stage time.
I've loved watching Elasea grow and develop over the last year and a half since discovering them when they opened for Funeral For a Friend just down the road, and I think 2017 is going to be their biggest year yet. Song like 'Walls' and 'Breathe' show a new direction for the band, with Liv taking more of a role as co-vocalist which really complements Andy's voice. I wasn't expecting them to cover 'The Hills', but the way they reworked the song and put their own twist on it has me highly anticipating what they'll do next.
Speaking to Liv after their set, she gave me the inside info that their next EP should be coming out fairly early in 2017. If you haven't already listened to their first EP, 'Where I Belong', just yet, you should definitely do that - they played two songs off of the EP, 'Glass Heart' and 'Time Is Against Us', and even though I'm really enjoying the sound of the new material I think the earlier songs still win in a live environment. 

Setlist:

Walls 

On My Own

The Hills (The Weeknd cover)

Breathe

Time Stops

Glass Heart

Time Is Against Us

A late addition to the bill, main support Cassels had the advantage over the other two bands as this was practically a hometown show (the duo hailing from Chipping Norton, less than an hour down the road). Having received radio play and been featured in DIY Magazine in the last month or so, there's a buzz beginning to surround these two, and I wasn't surprised at all to see a large crowd of people at the barrier wearing their merch and singing along to almost every word of their set.
The best way to describe their sound is eclectic. 'Sights For Sore Eyes' starts off with a roaring intro that morphs into a dancier vibe, playing around with abrupt stops and crashing restarts reminiscent of a rollercoaster ride. 'Well Fed Worms In A Graveyard' times in at just over 30 seconds, so when vocalist Jim Beck introduces it as a "quick one" he's not exaggerating.
Contrasting both of those frenetic, pull-no-punches tracks with the quieter 'Ignoring All The Tunnels and Lights' was proof that these two aren't afraid to play around with different styles, ignoring the boundaries between genres and doing what they damn well feel like. Introducing the track, Jim stated that because it was quieter it was their "most romantic one", following up with the information that "it's not at all: it's about getting old and refusing to die" to which Loz Beck, drummer quipped, "pretty sexy!". When Jim said he would go up to girls using the chat-up line "Do you wanna die alone? Hi, my name's Jim," Loz laughed, saying "Works every time...".
If you didn't work it out thanks to the surnames, the band members are actually brothers. It makes the relationship between the two absolutely magnetic: they know each other so well that they're weirdly in sync. There was a moment when Jim was in the middle of tuning his guitar, his reverb going in the background to fill the silence, and he turned it off at the exact same moment Loz crashed against his drums. It sounded brilliant, and Jim shouted that it was "nearly the best thing [they'd] ever done". It takes a lot of time and practice for band members to be able to bounce off each other like that, and Cassels definitely have an advantage by being related.
My only complaint was that Jim needed to retune his guitar between after almost every song. I was getting lost in every song, completely absorbed and focused intently on their music, but as soon as the tuning started it broke the spell. It's not his fault - it's something that happens to all musicians - but it was a little frustrating. Other than that, the set was completely flawless, which is something I haven't seen from a smaller band like this for a long time.
If you close your eyes while listening to Cassels you would have no idea that there were only two men on stage. It's non-stop, unrestrained rock that verges on pop and grunge in equal measures. Loz is currently at university in Hatfield, so I'm thinking the focus is going to be completely on the band as soon as he graduates. These guys could be extremely big in a couple of years time.
If you like your music to be intellectually simulating - the kind that always keeps you guessing about where exactly it's going to go next - Cassels are going to be your new favourite band.

Setlist:

Sights For Sore Eyes

Coup

Flock Analogy

Well Fed Worms In A Graveyard

Ignoring All The Tunnels and Lights

Beach Baby

Hating Is Easy

Cool Box

I hadn't heard of Tigercub before this show, so I had no idea what to expect. When the lights went off before the band took to the stage, 'Drop It Like It's Hot' by Snoop Dogg piping through the sound system, I was instantly entertained: a band that have good intro music always grab my attention and get me pumped for their set to begin.
However, that was the most exciting moment of their set. The lights stayed low, a brief flashing of the strobe light above the stage being the only thing that illuminated the three band members at any point during their set. It was almost impossible to see them through the gloomy, smoke-filled room, and as they moved from song to song hardly interacting with the crowd it began to feel like it was going to be a never-ending night.
If vocalist Jamie Hall had made more of an effort to involve the crowd, it would have been a completely different story. The turnout was remarkably good for a cold, wet Sunday, and if Jamie had asked them to step forward or fill the barrier it would have increased the atmosphere monumentally. Instead he gave up after one sentence, shouting "don't respond!" with frustration. When mentioning their upcoming album, 'Abstract Fears In The Dark', he also seemed quite abrasive, stating "you don't have to buy it, but if you don't want to buy it you don't have to. Fuckers, I'll talk all night. Number one tip for being in a band? Tell your audience to go fuck themselves. That's how it's supposed to be".
Uncomfortable, to say the least. There's having a rock'n'roll attitude, and then there's just being insolent. It did get a couple of chuckles from the people in attendance, but after the fun that Elasea and Cassels brought to the stage earlier in the evening, it was more of a rude awakening for me. 

Most of their songs sound exactly the same, but I did enjoy 'Burning Effigies', which was more stripped back and had far more complex lyrics than other songs they played (such as 'Bittersweet Motherfucker', which does exactly what it says on the tin) and 'You', with its melancholy "there's a hole in my head and it makes me forget about you" refrain.
If you like Nirvana but wish they were a little less energetic, I'd definitely recommend Tigercub. I'm afraid they just weren't my cup of tea.

Setlist:

Drop It Like It's Hot intro

Antiseptic

Omen

Rich Boy

Bittersweet Motherfucker

Burning Effigies

You

Pictures of You

Unfortunately I had to leave before the end of the show, so I'm not completely certain on what other songs they played - I do know that 'Destroy' made an appearance though!

Elasea - The Vic Swindon, 14/01/16

Being from Swindon, when I saw the announcement that Elasea were playing a headline set, there was no doubt in my mind that I would be there. Having fallen in love with them when I saw them support Funeral For A Friend way back in June, I'd been keeping an eye out for any local shows that they played - the fact that this one had two other local bands on the bill and was free entry was just an extra added bonus.

If I had to choose one word to describe opening band Sea Mammal, it would be introspective. 

If you pushed me to choose a second, it would be boring.

I'm going to say this straight off: musically, the band are very talented. The extended instrumentals that they were performing were executed to near perfection, and I could definitely appreciate the skill level that they were exhibiting. However, the main reason I attend show is to have fun, join in with a singalong or two and leave with songs stuck in my head. That's just not something that can happen with Sea Mammal.
Two of the three songs with lyrics that they performed were very simplistic - painfully so - repeating a handful of words and lines over and over with no variation, giving the very surreal feeling of being stuck on a loop. This, combined with the majority of songs in their set just being glorified jam sessions, meant that I found my attention drifting and my patience slipping rapidly away.
Add in the fact that there was no interaction with the crowd (okay, I lie. Their bassist thanked the crowd, and introduced the band, just before walking off stage after finishing their final song)... What could have been a really special set just didn't work out.
There was a song in the middle that had much more promise, with a furiously fast vocal and a much more uptempo style, but it was over far too quickly. It was the one song in which the band seemed to let go and take themselves less seriously, because the rest of the set was highly self involved.
It takes a certain calibre of band to be able to pull off this style of music in a live environment, and I don't think Sea Mammal are quite there yet. I can understand why their style of music appeals to people, with the grunge undertones and the thrashing guitars, but this set just wasn't to my taste.

However, Misfires were completely up my street. Imagine, for a moment, if you will, that The 1975, Little Comets and Arctic Monkeys all had a baby together. That baby would be Misfires.
In fact, I'd challenge you to find a more indie-sounding band than this one. With their almost pop sensibilities and their upbeat tunes, I found myself enjoying the evening and starting to have a lot more fun throughout their twenty minute set.
The set was far from perfect, with guitar strings breaking and amps being disconnected willy-nilly, but the camaraderie between the band members made that completely acceptable. In fact, I think it made the show better - you could tell how much fun the members were having, and they weren't letting anything ruin their night.
I don't have anything too specific to say about Misfires, because I enjoyed the entirety of their too short set. They're a band from Swindon, so the next time they play a show in the local area I'm definitely going to be attending. I wouldn't be too surprised if they were snapped up by festivals soon, though, because their summery sound would perfectly fit in an outdoor environment.

It's been a while since the last time I saw Elasea, and while I've been listening to their EP and other releases regularly, these songs take on a life of their own in a live environment. As soon as the opening strains of 'Shallow Waters' began, I was sucked into their set, and I enjoyed every moment.
Sine the last time I saw the band they've gone through a line-up change, so this was my first time seeing their new drummer, Ash, perform with them. I'd expected the dynamic to shift, thought there might be a palpable change in their chemistry, but he seems to fit in perfectly with the other members - if this was your first Elasea show, you definitely wouldn't pick up on the recent change. The majority of songs in their set were songs that I already knew, and I could hear anything drastically different in the way that Ash played them. When I saw them previously I commented on how talented their drummer was, but his replacement is more than filling his shoes, and that's even more apparent on the new material.
Elasea played two new songs at the show: 'Walls' and 'On My Own'. I've always lauded Elasea for their lyrics, because I think for a fairly small band they're brilliant at writing lyrics that are easy to relate to but also great for singalongs. With 'Walls', they've finally upped their game musically, with an atmospheric opening that sent chills down my spine. Guitarist Calum Radmore really stood out on the track, playing his guitar perfectly, and while it seemed like a departure from the band's usual sound, it also felt utterly them.
The second of the two new songs, 'On My Own', was definitely a chance to show off their new drummer. I don't often find myself focusing on drummers live - I don't know why, it's just one of the things I'm least likely to comment upon - but I was enthralled by the drum line throughout the first half of the song. 'On My Own' builds to a very beautiful climax, with vocalist Andy Bradford verging on screaming the lyric "when it rains it pours, can't remember what I'm looking for", and I loved the difference in style. While their EP is very much one to sing along to, veering more towards their pop punk sensibilities, the sheer unbridled angst bubbling over made for a fabulous energy and I couldn't tear my eyes away.
I don't love the new songs yet, but my interest was held by them. They feel like album tracks when you compare them to songs like 'Lost In The Dark' and 'Time Is Against Us', which definitely would be the singles: those two just have that something special, making them instantly stand out. All bands need to have the bread and butter songs, a bit plainer compared to the extravagant desserts. I'm not saying that in a bad way - average is necessary, because not every song released can be a number one hit! - but when their first half a dozen releases were as strong and absorbing as they were, there had to come a time when they plateaued and found a level on which to build.
Overall, I think this was the most impressed I've been with an Elasea show. The band seem to have a fire in their veins and a determination that wasn't there before, and they're definitely not going to let anything stand in their way. I'm already looking forward to hearing more material, and hopefully seeing them again soon. I still think there's something very special about these four.

Setlist:
Shallow Waters
Glory For The Sinner
Glass Heart
Walls
On My Own
Lost In The Dark
Time Is Against Us

Elasea - 'Where I Belong EP'

Since seeing Elasea for the first time supporting Funeral For A Friend they've definitely been a band I've held in high regard. They put on brilliant live performances and have such a visceral passion for the music, which are both attitudes I appreciate bands having. When the band contacted me and asked if I'd like to review their new EP, 'Where I Belong', I had to say yes - I just couldn't help wondering whether their recorded tracks could live up to my high expectations. 

Opening track 'Glass Heart' sounds just as good as it does live, which automatically sets a high bar for the rest of this EP; three of these songs are ones that I've already heard, so I'm already attached to them. Sometimes songs work much better live and don't translate well on to a recording, but this is not one of those problems - it's just as flawlessly performed. The chorus is addictive, the lyrics utterly catchy, and I really do enjoy this one.

'Where I Belong' is by far the most pop-punk of Elasea's songs; the intro is a hybrid of Four Year Strong and Neck Deep, and there's a brilliant section in the middle that is just made to be clapped along to live. As the title track of the EP you'd expect it to be similar to the other songs, but it's remarkably different - you can still tell that it's Elasea because of Andy Bradford's distinctive vocal tone, but other than that it could be a completely different band. It's good to see the band stretching themselves; no two songs on this EP sound the same, and bands with less experience under their belts often stick too closely to a set formula once they've written one good song. 

'Lost In The Dark' is definitely my favourite Elasea song - it stood out for me when seeing them live, and after the release of the music video earlier this month it's stayed firmly stuck in my head. The split vocals at the end of the song (with Liv Jones contributing vocals and Simon Jackman guest starring on the song) really add an extra layer, sending shivers down my spine, giving me goosebumps - all those cliches, but it's true that they do. There's not a single thing I can fault about this song, and I still think it's an arena-worthy track - mind-blowing to have been achieved at this stage of the band's career. 

'Time Is Against Us' is one of the heavier songs on the EP; the vocal switches between a growl and a softer sound, reminding me of We Are The Ocean back when they still had Dan Brown as a co-vocalist. This is also an amazingly catchy song - Elasea have a talent with lyrics and know how to write something that will stand out and hook you from the first moment. 

The most surprising song on this EP was definitely 'On The Line', featuring Alex Gale. The only acoustic song, it surprised me how much such a different style still suited them. I'm a sucker for a song with a male and female vocal, so this was right up my alley, and with the beautiful guitars in the background reaching a crescendo towards the end of the song it's a really emotional song. It's perfect road trip music, and I can imagine people blasting this song with their car windows down and the wind in their hair; it's evocative of the end of summer. 

The thing that makes Elasea stand out is their vocalist, Andy Bradford. His vocal tone is extremely unusual, but what I find the most impressive is how he chooses to phrase his lyrics. As someone who did performing arts for years I've studied lyric phrasing closely, but Andy makes decisions that are pulled from completely out of the box, and their songs really benefit from this. Instead of making predictable choices, by playing with the tempo of the lyrics throughout the songs it allows the vocal to shine, but also means that there's more focus thrown on the music - you just can't help but notice it, because making an usual vocal choice makes it all stand out. If you don't know what I'm going on about, I'd highly recommend you listen to 'Lost In The Dark' (linked above) because it's easy to recognise on the chorus there, but it's a trend that continues throughout their songs and it's something I adore. 

I also really appreciate the musical side of this band as well. A lot of the time I find myself ignoring the music because I focus on the vocals, but Elasea are a perfect blend, and that's something I haven't heard in quite a while. By working with multiple genres, this EP is certainly eclectic, but I think it will widen their appeal and they are very brave to take risks and do what they want to do with their music - it's something I think fans will love. 

Tracklist:

Glass Heart

Where I Belong

Lost In The Dark (ft. Simon Jackman)

Time Is Against Us

On The Line (ft. Alex Gale)

Once again, huge thanks to the band for sending their EP through to me, and I can't wait to see where these guys go next - it's so exciting!

Funeral For A Friend - Oxford O2 Academy 2, 06/06/15

This was my second time seeing Funeral For A Friend, the first being their slot on the Lock Up stage at Reading and Leeds 2013 - so as you can imagine, this was a massively different show to experience. With a tightly packed (yet a bit on the small side) crowd in attendance waiting patiently for their headline band, it was brilliant that the supports were complete 180's to each other, and it made for a very interesting line-up that will have definitely appealed to everyone in some shape or form.

Opening band Elasea were definitely the support band that I preferred. Starting off with 'To Feel Alive', I was impressed with the transition they performed between their first and second songs - it was seamless and had a professional feel that is lacking in many much more established bands. In fact, their entire set was so polished it felt for a moment as though this could be an Elasea headline show: the flashing lights perfectly synced to the music immersed me in the music completely, and I was surprised by how quickly their set flew past. 

The standout track for me was definitely torn between 'Lost In The Dark' and 'Glass Heart' - the former had beautiful lyrics that would be perfect screamed back by a huge crowd, while the latter was reminiscent of Lower Than Atlantis or Fort Hope, showing that there is definitely a fanbase out there waiting for this band. But while they were my favourites, the other songs all had their own distinct moments - the drum beat on 'Glory For The Sinner' is still stuck in my head, and 'Shallow Waters' (which they have a really awesome music video for) was also catchy and infectious, with more of a grunge twist on the rock sound and a super atmospheric breakdown in the middle.

I hadn't heard of Elasea before the show, but their style of music appealed to me and I've come away quite excited about where these guys can go in the future. They've only been around for a handful of years, and with the announcement at the show that they've been recording an EP, this will be their time - I'm certain of it. They're playing a show in Swindon, my home town, in a couple of weeks, and I'm going to try my hardest to get along to it - if you have a chance, go, you won't regret it. 

Setlist:

To Feel Alive

Time Is Against Us

Glory For The Sinner

Lost In The Dark

Glass Heart

Shallow Waters

However, second support band Korsakoffs were really not my cup of tea. Very very heavy, with lots of shouting, for most of their set I just felt as though I was being engulfed in an endless wave of noise. Some of the crowd definitely seemed to be enjoying it, with lots of cheering along at the end of all of their songs, but the set all seemed a bit one dimensional to me, and that one dimensional was not appealing. 

Don't get me wrong, they all seemed like lovely guys - their onstage banter was a bit lacking, but they all just seemed so utterly pleased to be there - and they played their instruments well, but this just wasn't something I was going to enjoy.

Their penultimate song was definitely the most different. Main vocalist/shouter Ben Woosnam went to backing vocals, and bassist Ben Royle took over lead vocals for a song, and Royle's voice definitely appealed to my music taste more. The song was rambling and lengthy, bringing to mind Metallica, but it was a welcome reprieve from the heaviness that had stayed center stage throughout. 

I was beyond excited about seeing my first Funeral For A Friend headline show, especially following the release of 'Chapter and Verse' last year, and I was not disappointed. Starting with 'Pencil Pusher' I was shocked by how much vibrancy the band were displaying - at Reading their set was quite pared back, completely in contrast with this explosive performance. Transitioning straight into 'High Castles', the energy only let up for a slight break for guitarist Gavin Burrough to have a personal discussion with a member of the crowd, but the band were soon back at it again. It's a testament to Gavin, and to the rest of the guys, that they carried the show on with such professionalism, and all of the crowd seemed sympathetic to the situation as well. 

The rest of the set didn't let up, with 'Streetcar' really kicking the crowd up a gear. I was quite surprised by how much better the reception was for the older songs - you could tell that the crowd was attentive and respectful through some of their newer tunes, but the older tracks were the only ones that got the crowd moving as much as I'd been expecting them to. Vocalist Matthew Davies-Kreye apologised for his voice sounding a bit rough, citing their "over-excited" final set at Camden Rocks last weekend, and stating he was "trying [his] darnedest to sound pretty", but even Matt's vocal problems couldn't detract from a brilliant performed and well-crafted set. There was a focus upon older material, which you could tell the crowd appreciated, but they also managed to fit in a selection of hits from their three most recent albums, and it was great to hear the different eras of their music complementing each other so casually. 

There were multiple touching moments throughout the set, with Matt dedicating 'Storytelling' to his sister, and sharing anecdotes about his niece and nephew, who have both been going to Funeral For A Friend shows since they were young. Matt's speech before 'Roses For The Dead' was also very heart-wrenching; with Matt sharing that it's "always been a song that brings back memories of people I've cared about that I've had to say goodbye to over the years" and said "it connects me to the people I love now and the people I've loved who are no longer with us". The resounding roar of agreement from the crowd was spine-tingling, and I've never felt more strongly that the sentiment of music being universal and uniting people is completely true. 

In all honesty, all of the early material that they played gave me the same feeling. The second half of the set was purely made up of older material, kick starting it with 'Recovery', my personal favourite Funeral song of all time. Despite the fact that the lyrics are bleak and depressing, the music is still something that you can dance to, which will always be a strange juxtaposition to me - but you could tell how cathartic this show was for many of the people in attendance. This was cemented at the end of 'History', in which the audience sang the entire final chorus completely unaccompanied, and ended up being louder than the band were through their entire set. A brief chant of "when I say 'scuba', you say 'Steve'" went up, and it made this show seem even stranger - for an emo rock band to have gang chant moments like that is just so weird but, bizarrely, it works.

If you've been to a lot of Funeral For A Friend shows, you might know that this is just the norm for their sets, but this was my first proper show and it really felt like something special. With fourteen years of experience comes a certain finesse and ease with the crowd, and even though Matt's vocal was strained and slightly inaudible at times, the smile on his face from doing what he loves made up for the less than perfect sound. If I'm lucky enough to see another Funeral For A Friend set, I'll be happy if it was even half as good as this one. 

Setlist: 

Pencil Pusher

High Castles

The Distance

Streetcar

You've Got A Bad Case Of The Religions

Bend Your Arms To Look Like Wings

Storytelling

1%

Front Row Seats To The End Of The World

Old Hymns

Recovery

Juneau

History

Roses For The Dead

Rookie Of The Year

Escape Artists Never Die (ft. Ben Woosnam of Korsakoffs)