‘Atlas’, the latest offering from indie rock band Real estate, is a gentle psychedelic mix of dulcet tones and tranquil melodies. It manages to transport the university student stuck in halls in a revision coma to a faraway sandy beach, watching the sun set and anticipate the long nights and warm weather that spring brings.
This is the third studio album from the band who hail from New Jersey, and fans of Kodaline will enjoy a similar tone of gentle and somewhat dreamy offerings. There is a similar sound to the boy’s previous release, ‘Days’, however though the subtle and soothing feel remains, ‘Atlas’ definitely feels more established, with the band confidently finding their sound and proudly performing it around the virtual beach it can’t help but carry you to. ‘Had to hear’ sets the calm, meditative tone of the album, but still with plenty of drums to please those who are looking for more than just a track to chill to want to be sure of the tender but still present rock edge. If the opening song didn’t quite make ‘Atlas’ feel like a dream sequence, ‘Past lives’ is the conformation, a peaceful reminiscence of times gone by. ‘Talking backwards’, the bands new single is a juxtaposition of an upbeat, catchy melody and frustrated emotional lyrics, telling the tale of regret in a relationship; ‘only thing that really matters in the one thing I can’t seem to do’.
The psychedelic soundtrack is definitely present in ‘April’s song’ a chilled melody with the absence of vocalist Martin Courtney, that keeps in pattern with the hazy vibe of the album cover, a blurred mixture of colours; the only crime of the track being the use of a fade out, which the band would probably argue adds to the dreamy feel of the album. Once used to the totally calm and relaxed sound, the album would provide the perfect soundtrack to the release from winter to the warm outside and long nights; or redemption while suffering inside writing an essay. The band seem comfortable with their kooky spin on rock, providing plenty of guitars and drums on tracks like ‘The bend’ but still managing to keep the chilled out theme of the record. ‘Crime’ also follows this pattern, with an echoic feel and a very subtle rock edge creeping through occasionally. If sun glistening sea had a theme tune, it would most likely sound something like this. ‘Primitive’ provides a fast paced rhythm and allows vocalist Martin Courtney to firmly expose his retro tones again. ‘How might I live’ seems like a necessary change, if a noticeably short one; and provides a good contrast when the tunes were beginning to sound a bit too similar, with a slow stripped back melody. There may be critics of the very casual feel to the record on the whole, with few tracks grabbing you as incredibly memorable, however perhaps this should be embraced instead of faltered, the album provides chilled easy to listen to tracks with a reflective mood and retro sounding vocals, and shouldn’t be indicted for pretending to be more than what it is. ‘Horizon’ takes us back to the upbeat summer feeling, while ‘Navigator’ finishes the record with a gentle reflective tone, concluding the album, giving little issue to reaching for the replay button on a first-rate album to relax to and look forward to the long nights ahead.