Review: “Following Alice” by The Afterglow
The Afterglow’s new single in equal measure conveys longing and defiance. This manifests itself both lyrically and sonically with there being subtlety and belligerence from the outset.
Beginning with a discreet and extremely tight section questioning as to where this lost friend/ lover “Alice,” may be, this gives way to a cacophonic chorus full of anguish regarding the time and effort being misspent on the songs subject.
Indeed The Afterglow has influences that are worn on their sleeves. There are evident shades of Biffy Clyro when all three instruments collide with equal measure implying how flippantly one can jump from emotion to emotion. Also the gentle sounds that all three conjure echo early Sebadoh with a need for volume but always maintaining melody and purpose. However it’s the way the band’s three members will move so easily from one section to another that keeps the song being continually interesting and the subject matter remaining enigmatic, yet engaging.
The single is backed by “And Then, Surprisingly,” that once again offers wonderfully taut guitar and also a vocal harmony that briefly gives the same calmness that band’s such as Explosions in the Sky generate at their softest moments.
The last time I personally saw The Afterglow live was an acoustic performance. These songs very much reinforce how confrontational yet strikingly hushed a sound the three can create as they did that day. What is more its all so superbly tight and intricate, the sound shaped always being driven and meaningful.
Evidently shunning fads over heartfelt and literate song writing, which in the horrendously fickle music spewed out (and then devoured) by the majority of so called “alternative,” music fans nowadays, this single comes as a breathe of fresh air and shows a band proud of its aesthetic with an obvious vision as to where their sound is going.
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March 14th, 2007 at 11:54 pm
My name is Mud. I saw The Afterglow once, they had beards. One had Aids. One was a redneck. The other spent all his money on sex with monkeys. They can’t be trusted.But they sound cool.
Cocksuckers.