Sands - The World's So Cruel

by Dave Goodwin

published: 19 / 1 / 2024

Label: Sands
Format: CD

intro

Eclectic indie rock and pop on debut album from Sands, the project of London-born multi-instrumentalist Andrew Sands

It comes as no surprise to learn that London-born multi-instrumentalist Andrew Sands quickly became obsessed by records as a teenager. Like a lot of us at that age, he did but then he decided he was going to have a bash at playing drums and guitar as well. A little later on, he found himself getting into the recording and engineering side of the music business. Since 2017, he has kept himself busy by releasing a number of EPs and singles including the wonderful ‘Tomorrow’s Gone /Burning Man’. His musical influences are like a who’s who of the pop world and include Neil Young, Bowie, The Smiths, David Lynch, Talk Talk and Echo and the Bunnymen, which should give the game away as to his natural sound on this latest full length offering ‘The World’s So Cruel’. Other plaudits have Sands described as New Wave, Shoegaze, Fuzzy Rock, Psychedelic and a whole world of other genres. They are on the money but what’s even better is that this is Pop at its finest. There are echoes of Oasis as on the starter ‘The Lines Been Drawn’. The Talk Talk emphasis is definitely there on ‘Transmission’ and ‘Through this Avenue/The Game ‘,along with When it Starts to Rain which has been picked out as the lead single on this album. Some may say it is the strongest track as it has serious Talk Talk vibes, but it also reminds me of The Horrors with its echoing, smooth. droning vocals – a great track to introduce Sands to the masses which I am hoping this album will do. It’s all here for the listening. Catchy guitars, soaring synths, fuzzy guitars. and it’s all been done quite well indeed. There are a few drifters in it - the curious Bunnymen-sounding ‘Around The Moon’; the Wonder Stuff-like ‘Third World War and the Americana come Bunnymen sea shanty of Sing to Me My Dear’ as examples. This just, however, emphasises the fact that on the whole the album is a sound to behold. It all ends with Sands drifting on a guitar-strumming, synth-laden melody ship sailing off to the pop-perfect ‘Horizon’. Sands deserves a lot more exposure on the evidence of this and eventually to take over this ‘World So Cruel’.

Track Listing:-

1 The Line's Been Drawn
2 Transmission
3 Honey Honey
4 A Dream In My Pocket
5 Through This Avenue - The Game
6 Young Man
7 When It Starts To Rain
8 Around The Moon
9 Are You The Devil?
10 Third World War
11 Sing To Me My Dear
12 Horizon