Solkyri - Sad Boys Club (2015)

From the start of the album opener ‘Team Solar’, it’s evident how far Solkyri has come as a band. Humming with purposeful energy, the quiet beginning unfolds to a quickly tapping drumline as the guitars work their way before the bass guitar blasts away the quietness with a melodic run. There are strutting fiery guitar solos, a delicate xylophone-led interlude and a powerful finish. Finally Solkyri have captured the raucous joyful energy of their live performance on a recording and this continues to be demonstrated with the racing start to the following track, ‘Yes I’m Breathing’.

This energy is mixed with careful consideration for emotion. The shorter tracks such as ‘Kidnapped’ and ‘Beyond the Use of Men’ have far bigger impact beyond their track length in creating the sad mood of the album, with the stunning piano and cello duet of ‘Be Good, I Love You’ and its fading piano notes ending heartachingly beautiful.

The band’s experimental roots still show through in the unpredictable song compositions that always surprise with their twists and turns. It’s a natural enough evolution to let listeners become comfortable with the songs but never entirely thanks to previous surprises and use of suspense. There are only some occasions where these song changes might lose listeners, such as the slightly forced and heavy ending of ‘Yes I’m Breathing’. However, other songs such as bonus track ‘Rosalie’ with its mix of orchestral grandness, spacious piano solo and attacking walls of guitar riffs show that the risks more than often pay off. It’s this adventurous exploration of song evolution and emotion that forms the cornerstone of Solkyri’s sound.

Tracklist:

01. Team Solar
02. Yes, I'm Breathing
03. Kidnapped
04. Sad Boys
05. Beyond The Use Of Men
06. I Felt Unsafe, I Felt At Home
07. Odmoriti
08. Be Good, I Love You
09. Forrah
10. Farewell Bluebird