Album Name: Even Us Ghosts
Artist: Bottlemoth
Released: October 2024
Rating: 8/10
Tracklist
Landslides (People Change)
Everything Works Out In The End
Bowling, Beers & Most Of Our Friends
Settle In
Where Oceans Swallow Your Skies
Tattoo
You'll Always Have Us
Deleted Scenes
Numb
Hold Me Like You Know Me
On the 17th of October, indie-folk five-piece Bottlemoth released their outstanding debut album 'Even Us Ghosts'. The indie-folk group formed earlier this year (2024) and they have already shared stages with the likes of The Dangerous Summer, Cold Years, Jim Lockey & The Solemn Sun and Adult Leisure. Influenced by artists like Manchester Orchestra, The Gaslight Anthem, The Wonder Years and Frightened Rabbit it's no wonder that these guys write honest and heartfelt tracks that have a stunning dynamic sound. On the bands debut album they explore the complexities of living in your twenties, from finding your independence, to heartbreaks and the love we have for the people in our lives, they have created a lyrically powerful ten-track.
"Like many of our friends, we'd become twenty somethings living with our families again, and there are a lot of complexities to that; Feeling fortunate to have these people, but the contrasting feeling of becoming a burden. It progressed the themes and images in the writing process, with oceans and 'the deep', a direct comparison to sinking emotionally, and tall skylines being the opposite hopes and joy. The album title 'Even Us Ghosts' summarises the record well for just three words. Without speaking for the whole band, across my life I have felt like a ghost in a very loud world." - (Ethan Proctor Williams, Vocals & Guitar)
Previous single 'Landslides (People Change) lends a gentle open to the album, the song feels like a warm welcome home, before the folklore feeling 'Everything Works Out In The End' comes in next. The title lyric "everything works out in the end" rings throughout the song while the melody of the guitars help build the feeling that everything will be okay.
Heading in a more vibrant direction is the punchy 'Bowling, Beers & Most Of Our Friends', much like other tracks on this album this one is gorgeously layered and especially in this third track the drums will keep your head bopping along. There's a feeling of love within this track that I think is especially felt with the soaring guitar, Bottlemoth really do an incredible job of capturing the various complicated emotions that a human being can go through. The next two tracks both have this simple yet super powerful energy about them. 'Settle In', the first of the two let's the vocals fully shine as the track begins backed up only by a peaceful piano before the track grows and the band show off the vocal harmonies which they should be known for. 'Where Oceans Swallow Your Skies' came as a single alongside this release and I can see why this one was chosen, the guitar melody will be pulling on your heartstrings even before the depth and emotion of the vocals takes that to a whole new level. This one had me feeling my feelings, it feels so perfectly controlled, like at any moment there could be an explosion but everything is kept so tightly together making the track feel even more powerful and it took a hold of me and refused to let go. At this point in the album I was happy to hear we were heading in a much more lively direction with 'Tattoo', it's captivating and energetic vibe is an enjoyable pallet cleanser from the heartbreak of the previous track. This is a pretty catchy one but I would have to say the catchiest is the next one 'You'll Always Have Us'. This is a driving through the country windows down kind of song. The promise of 'you'll always have us' aids the feeling of hope and love that oozes from this track. It feels happy and is easily one of my favourites on the album. Then we head back into the feels a little bit with 'Deleted Scenes', this one has a stunning atmosphere and I am a huge fan of the lyrical focus in it. Bottlemoth deliver some really nice poetry within their words and songs like 'Deleted Scenes' really allow you to get into and fully imagine the scene that they are painting for you. Another great track on 'Even Us Ghosts' is 'Numb', this one begs to consume you with it's swelling emotion and sounds. I could get lost in the vocal harmony of the chorus for days while the gentle sounds of the guitars equally fill my ears. I'd be lying if I said I didn't love every track on this album but 'Numb' definitely stands out, showing off everything that makes Bottlemoth one of the most emotive and fierce bands I've heard in the indie-folk genre.
'Hold Me Like You Know Me' closes the album and this almost five minute long track actually loses me a little bit, it took me till about halfway through to really get into it which is so different from all the other nine tracks on 'Even Us Ghosts'. It takes on a big vocal focus but I didn't find myself getting as into the lyrics as I did with others, maybe it's just I didn't relate to this one as much as others, or maybe it'll take me a couple more listens to fully get it but don't get me wrong it still has the beautiful indie-folk sound that is there in the rest of the album. Bottlemoth have clearly displayed their talents not only with their instrumental abilities but also with the way they can make music that is so poetic and heartfelt. Their emotion driven dynamic sound will take you from highs to lows and leave you wanting to check in on the people you maybe haven't seen in a while. For me, I took away the feeling that life moves fast and not only is it super important to take care of ourselves but also to see loved ones and take in the moments that are happening around you. Anyone who reads this blog or knows me, knows I am a heavy music lover normally but I also love when an album like this from another genre can get under my skin, and I really fell for the powerful indie-folk sounds these guys put out.
Listen to 'Even Us Ghosts' HERE
Bottlemoth are
Ethan Proctor Williams - Vocals & Guitar Chessa Proctor Williams - Vocals & Keys Matt Bond - Vocals & Lead Guitar Henry Matthews - Bass Tom Farkas - Drums
Bottlemoth online
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