Nuclear Club - Pop Psych (Album Review)

Words - Craig Carrington-Porter

Alternative, Scottish and unsigned. Need I say more? Nuclear Club have debuted with a hefty 16 track album. Wrought by Marc Throw and collectively recorded through the use of borrowed equipment and charity shop purchases, the recording process has been more than just an experience for some. From start to finish of writing and recording the album has seen three members get married and two become parents.

Lets try not and not digest this in one, lets chop it up and talk about this album bit by bit.

Collectively it works, it isn’t a concept album but the songs weave in between each other. All tracks share themes of depression and anxiety, experienced by members of the band. It’s a mixture of both heaviness and light hearted pop-indie melodies. It’s the perfect accolade to represent someone going through their early twenties, graduating and adjusting to the social norm of adult life.

Stand out tracks are, ‘Stampede’-you can hear syncopated rhythms between the drummer and bongos in the back ground. Plus, vocals that sound like alt-J and a modulated guitar and bass outro make you pause for a second, open your Spotify back up and replay the song.

‘Feliformia’ sounds like the soundtrack to a day dream, my day dreams and has a distant, encapsulating sound to the vocals.

The album titled track ‘Pop Psych’ has a Bloc Party guitar intro and hushed choruses. It is an easy going track that reminds me of the simplicity of The Kooks.

As you dwell further into the second half of the album you can find more religious themed tracks such as ‘The Skeptic’ and ‘One if by land, Two if by Sea’.  However, the alternative genre labelling is best exposed in ‘Blood Oath’ a fitting title for a song that has more noise and grain to it than the other tracks.

Don’t get me wrong 16 tracks is a mouthful, and even most well established bands would quiver or question the thought of releasing so much material under one banner, especially debuting is a risky number but it works. And the content that is in here would keep you coming back to it.