W.H. Lung are an incredible band. I already held this opinion after their last album, Vanities, was released three years ago, but this time they’ve left me opened mouthed on the pavement, jaw only just above it, in a state of perpetual astonishment. I’ll probably still be there in ten years time.
Every Inch Of Earth Pulsates might only contain nine songs, but oh my, what a set they make up. Every one of them is an absolute treat, starting with the driving, kind of ‘Dirty Vegas does shoegaze’ opener that is ‘Lilac Sky‘. It’s such an emotional sounding track with a lot of heart. It’s impossible not to fall in love with it, from its pulsating beginning to that dramatic, huge sounding culmination at the end. The fact that they follow this with ‘Bliss Bliss‘ – a song with one of the most euphoric choruses you’re ever likely to hear – leaves you, in no uncertain terms, feeling like this is inarguably an album of the year contender. A real warm-feeling blast of nostalgia. So good you want to cry.
‘Thinner Wine‘ is more your ‘typical indie guitar’ fare, but, crucially, there’s a depth to it not commonly found within that ‘genre’ for want of a better word. I suppose I was going to compare it to anyone, it’s maybe Maximo Park, another band who seem to exceed expectations on a regular basis. Lung have the edge for me though – there are few bands who can make me get entirely lost in their music, but they totally pull it off, and take me to another world completely.
Then the amazing ‘Bloom And Fade‘ comes in, which is kind of like Neon Bible era Arcade Fire: “Is it ’cause I loved you? I didn’t think that would be a problem” Joe Evans sings, his voice wrought with emotion over a pounding backbeat, while the “Woo oo oo” introduction of ‘How To Walk‘ is effective in adding an infectious element to this 100mph punch-the-air anthem.
‘Flowers In The Rain‘ is not, as the title might imply, a cover version of The Move‘s classic single famous for being the first record played on Radio One, but more like a great 4AD record, perhaps by Curve or early Lush, largely due to the sublime vocals of Hannah Peace. Honestly, it’s hard to find enough superlatives to throw at this band. I’m all thesaurused out!
‘I Can’t Lie‘ harks back to the 1980s and tips it hat, whether knowingly or not, to Bronski Beat, Joe singing falsetto here, and it’s one of my favourite tracks as a result, but picking a favourite track here is like trying to choose your favourite offspring. It can’t really be done without feeling guilty. So it won’t surprise you to know that the early Depeche Mode-like ‘The Painting Of The Bay‘ is also fabulous, with shades of New Order circa 1982 to boot, before the utterly staggering curtain closer, the easy to sway along to ‘I Will Set Fire To The House‘, dark and brooding at first, yet somehow comforting, which perfectly conveys the story he wanted to tell with this song. You can read my interview with Joe if you want to find out more about that.
As I said to Joe in that interview, in a year that’s been absolutely chock-full of outstanding albums, you’d better believe that Every Inch Of Earth Pulsates is beyond question one of the most glorious long players we’ve seen released. I firmly believe that, in years to come, this may even be looked upon as one of the classic albums of the 2020s. Perhaps even beyond. Just breathtaking.
