Tallies - Self Titled (Album Review)
I definitely enjoy the smooth, catchy guitar tones along with the groovy, muted bass licks and steady percussion, glorious synths and hazy atmosphere created primarily by Sarah's emotive vocals and - goodness me I think I actually really like this album! I didn't expect to, even after a couple of listens I was mostly underwhelmed but there is a certain charm that seems to worm its way under your skin, alluding to the fact that this album is a beautiful piece of shoegaze indie nostalgia, albeit unoriginal and predictable. I mean, I don't want to like it as much as I do but it's impossible to deny how memorable, pleasing and enjoyable the soft vibes and springy instrumentation is.
The deeper you go this sense is only reinforced and reiterated with more and more great songs with their sweet, catchy choruses and building, mellow verses it all just fits together so perfectly its undeniable. Try not being impressed by the vocal melody and rhythmic passage on the gorgeous "Not So Proud", or how the percussion picks up on the swirling chorus of "Mother", or the instantly mesmerising complexity of the instrumentation on "Trains and Snow", a blizzard of a song that proves just how capable Tallies can be at building a mood whatever tempo or intensity the song may be, the rushing sense accompanied by warm vocals to juxtapose the harsher guitars, drums and lyrics.
It's not like there's been too much of this particular brand of indie being revived in the last few years where nostalgia has fuelled the media, so this album has some really pleasant songs that really act as a sharp breath of wintry air with sunny hue, I think it's an album that a lot of the time represents the readiness for spring after the cruelness and coldness of winter. At this time in the year I enjoy how it enhances the things around me, perfectly fitting an atmosphere and beautifully demonstrating all that can be accomplished in this strand of dream pop. This is an album that melted my heart after only a few listens, sounding warm and welcoming in a mist of cold notwithstanding.
It'll probably surprise many people that the singles "Trouble" and "Beat the Heart" are two of my least favourites, the former in particular definitely lacking the sort of swirling mystery that so gorgeously defines this album and the latter capturing the mood but presenting a new side to the band that is followed through on subsequent songs and definitely deviates from the wintry chill I've praised too much already. No, this part of the album is more focused on the springy aspects of their sound, with more major melodies and full sounding rhythms and production that just doesn't quite live up to the previous songs.
Thankfully, the album closes with the songs "Rocks" and "Easy Enough", both of which are huge steps up from "Beat the Heart" and "Giving Up". It's no coincidence that the songs I prefer are those with less of a big chorus as the band are clearly better at building an tremendous aesthetic and ambience than a big chorus although that's not to say they can't do both - their semblance is maybe at its best on the fantastic and catchy album closer "Easy Enough", a song that employs all their best qualities and rolls it into one impressive centrepiece with some admirable dynamic choices that really showcase the capabilities of this young band.
On their debut album, Tallies provide some of the best shoegaze music in a long while, proving just how much more the 80s still has to offer in terms of revivable subgenres just waiting to be restored to glory, and this is an undeniably beautiful album to show that off. It's been very difficult choosing what to rate this one, but overall I've decided to go with a strong 7 out of 10. It may not be perfect but there's a lot here to enjoy and a lot to be excited about for Tallies in the future.
Best Songs:
Mother, Midnight, Not So Proud, Trials and Snow, Eden, Easy Enough
Worst Song/s:
Trouble, Beat the Heart
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