The trio from Sydney have always had a great ear for melody and could have easily blended it again with the obvious influences of the first two records. However they have stretched out and crafted a DMA’s sound that nods to so much more than what we have heard before from them.
The album opens up with a Primal Scream meets Oasis’ ‘Go Let It Out’ with ‘Never Before’ and what a cool sound it is! It makes your head calmly move with the cool rhythm in the verse, then leaves you reaching for the sky in euphoria in the chorus. Their use of synth beats, which appeared on their previous LP briefly, gives the song a much needed style that prevents the track from feeling repetitive, nevertheless a very good opener. DMA’s offer a classic melody of theirs (I love it!) in ’The Glow’ that follows straight after. It’s singalong chorus reminds me a bit of Blossoms, yet the sound and intro is a big ode to The Chemical Brothers. The whole new influences here just freshens up the bands nature of nice and singable melodies so well, for sure a big reason for ‘The Glow’s acclaim.
‘Silver’ comes with such calm and yes it’s reminiscent of The Verve, but it’s so good that it should just be praised of being DMA’s at their finest. It sounds so heartbreaking with its lyrics being about still loving someone you do not have anymore, it’s looking up to the sky asking why and how can I get through this pain. The kick of desire that comes along in the last third, after the woe of the opening verses, is so beautiful and a song that the band should be so proud to sing.
The danceable nature of the record is rather exciting, it gives another dimension that is always needed for a band who want to keep pushing their sound. ‘Life Is a Game of Changing’ follows the venerable nature of lyrics within this album, but it’s a soft rave number which is rather enjoyable.
There are truly some good ideas on this album and most are executed well, but sadly ‘Criminal’ is indeed one that falls flat. It just feels like an idea that was given over by some songwriters to a boyband to fill up their album; it feels cringe in its delivery despite the chorus being catchy, I was worried if the band had anything else in the tank after this. BUT fear not, we do not need to worry though as they return to good form with the singer, Tommy O’Dell, sounding so mysterious in the cool song called ‘Strangers’; it would fit perfectly in the first High Flying Bird’s album!
Another glorious moment comes along next, that takes venerability to a euphoric level in Learning Alive’. It’s beautiful as it rises so elegantly from verse to chorus, we have Tom singing ‘Never been so scared to be open Knocking down walls through to more emptiness’ it just leaves you wanting to have this song on repeat with how good it is. It’s a great showing of how talented Tommy, Johnny and Matt are, another impressive moment on the record.
The very fun ‘Hello Girlfriend’ is Liam’s solo work but more solid for me, it sounds different while being familiar, something that can be risky business when wanting to sound authentic. ‘Appointment’ wofts of The Killers, with a heavy kick drum and dramatic guitar line after the big chorus. Though it does not excite and it may want you to see how long you have got left of the album, again another cool idea that falls short.’
Cobraccine’ is a synth based and 90’s dance track that really does impress, an interesting closer that does finish things off nicely. With the album finishing for the second time, I can easily say that it has been great hearing the Aussie band really go for something that incorporates a fair few tricks, that gives a much needed diversity to ‘The Glow’, alongside some classic DMA's moments.
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