Veridian « The RingMaster Review

There are many aspects to the sound and songs of British trio InAir but the ones which impress most is the almost nagging quality which effortlessly entices swift returns and then the increasing temptation which rewards every listen. The evidence is most ripe within new EP Dreamful, a handful of tracks which immediately made a strong case for continued attention but truly blossomed in ears and appetite with that incessant curiosity.

Hailing from Reading, InAir introduced themselves with a praise gathering debut EP in 2017, A Different Light revealing the rich flavouring to their alternative/electro rock nurtured sound. Equally live the threesome of lead vocalist/bassist Joe Conneely, guitarist/vocalist Aaron Iley, and drummer/vocalist Connor Shortt has drawn potent acclaim, sharing stages with the likes of Arcane Roots, Defences, Chasing Cadence, Junior, Veridian, From Inside and Death Remains. It is easy to expect the band to again entice eager support for Dreamful such its contagious enterprise. Whether it is their breakthrough moment time will tell but it is hard to deny that point is on the cards at some moment in time.

Control kicks things off, its calm melodic invitation soon engulfed in a fiery eruption. As swiftly though it relaxes into a reserved but catchy stroll as Conneely’s tones proceed to share the song’s heart. All the while that volatile edge still simmers, boiling up with rhythms a tenacious enticement throughout as guitar sparked flames ignite the drama of the encounter. It is an absorbing mix of sound and imagination, fresh and familiar flavours woven into one powerful body.

The following Chemicals is similarly bred, electronic enterprise colluding with rock and metal inspired hues to create a dramatic proposition further enhanced by the emotive strength of vocals. Each though carries an infectious lining which increasingly got under the skin, the dynamics of rhythms adding to this tempting as intimacy fuels the narrative and melodic breath of the song. Eclipsing the opener, it too is maybe just a tad outshone by its successor, Talk To You. It is only slight if it is as together the outstanding pair provides the pinnacle of the EP, the latter an impassioned and lively slice of melancholy draped contagion with potent crescendos and searing eruptions.

The release is completed by firstly Regress, an equally combustible slab of electronic and melodic intensity as anthemic as it is thickly emotive, and finally Life Finds A Way. The closer like those before it simply grew in persuasion and stature by the listen, its unassuming yet enticing beginning breeding some of the EP’s most riveting and rousing flumes of sound and contagion to erupt.

Dreamful is a release which commands attention once given the opportunity, whether it demands it enough will determine if now or in the future InAir really make their mark on the UK rock scene but it is easy to feel they will.

The Dreamful EP is out now.

https://www.inairband.com/ https://www.facebook.com/inairband https://twitter.com/InAirUK

Pete RingMaster 20/09/2019

Having impressed in sound and potential with their debut EP two years back, British alternative rockers Elasea have just unveiled its successor Lesson Learnt. With a new addition to the Reading hailing band’s ranks, the EP quickly shows a new maturity and creative elegance in their songwriting and music. It is a magnetic affair for ears with plenty of reasons to suggest that Elasea are going places within the UK rock scene.

Emerging in 2013, Elasea potently poked attention with the Where I Belong EP, the release swiftly drawing praise the way of the quartet. Their growing reputation was also supported by a live presence seeing the band share stages with the likes of Funeral For A Friend, AllUsOnDrugs, Veridian, and Echoic. That time between releases has seen Elasea’s four strong line-up extended to five with the incoming Braydie Haskell adding prowess on keys. It is a notable essence certainly going some way to sparking the new rounded and inventive growth in the band’s sound but across all members, individual craft and imagination has openly blossomed.

Lesson Learnt opens up with Breathe, a sombre yet bright melody caressed by wistful keys initially coaxing ears, leading them into the waiting tide of rapacious riffs and rhythms. Their controlled but obvious urgency is accompanied by an emotive intensity which is even bolder in the strong vocal presence and expression of rhythm guitarist Andy Bradford. With bassist Liv Jones adding plenty of captivating vocal presence too, along with the muscular strains of sound, there is a Sick Puppies like essence to the song which only accentuates its appeal and imaginative character. On top, the keys are a well of emotive suggestion, a poetic glaze to the rawer texture of guitar and the meaty rhythms shaping the excellent track.

The following Time Stops is a similar fusion of metallic strength and melodic beauty; keys and the melody courting guitar of Calum Radmore weaving melancholic grace and sentiment as the lively beats of Ashley Haskell probe and incite the senses. With Jones’ bass grumble emotionally vocal, the track is a croon of shadow and open hearted yearning led by the vocal potency of Bradford again magnetically supported by Jones.

The more skittish air and intensive weight of On My Own shows another aspect to EP and the Elasea sound, the song more akin to the likes of You Me At Six and Bring Me The Horizon though still that early hint of the aforementioned Australian rockers prevails at times. They are flavours though adding to the growing uniqueness in Elasea’s music rather than shaping it, and enjoyable hues in the irritable character and tempestuous adventure of the third richly enjoyable song.

These Secrets is an instrumental interlude evocatively drifting over the imagination, its atmospheric presence maybe more pleasurable padding then essential to Walls, the final song adding infectious bounce and plaintive heart to the already impressing release. The electronic shimmer of synths cradles another great vocal union between rhythms guitarist and bassist, their harmonic contrasts and unity accentuated by the fiery ear charming nature of the sounds around them.

Elasea have made a big step in moving away from the crowd with Lesson learnt, the growth in their sound highly appetising. There is still room for true uniqueness to evolve and that is as exciting a prospect as the EP is for ears right now.

Lesson Learnt is out now through all platforms and @ https://elasea.bandcamp.com/album/lesson-learnt-ep or http://www.elasea.bigcartel.com/