Coldharbourstores - Wilderness

by Maarten Schiethart

published: 25 / 2 / 2017

Label: Enraptured Records
Format: CD

Understated but haunting first album in fourteen years from London-based alternative band Coldharbourstores

Review

London quartet Coldharbourstores' basic and sparse sound comprises vocals, guitar, computers, bass and drums. Although the band appears perhaps languid and certainly sober, the singer, Lucy Castro, with the voice of a little angel, performs in contrast to this. Yet song by song the spectrum of 'Wilderness' expands and 'Kissing' brings the first great surprise on the album, as if tidal waves have started to rock the boat decisively. The title track includes moments of peaceful Americana twang beauty and country-styled singing, which while not quite yodelling is close to it. Graham Sutton, a.k.a. dance producer Boymerang perfectly manages to twist and turn dreamscape non-melodies; melting them into recognisable tunes with a quite esoteric narrative. The follow-up to 2002's 'More Than The Other' has been released on Enraptured, not Endangered Species like the last record, and fourteen years later 'Wilderness' sounds as like a haven of tranquility. The closing song 'Genie' - again a breath of fresh air - made me ponder: it is best listened to this album on the bank of a river. In spite of its low-key modesty, one may find an unpolished gem.