TRACK REVIEW: After London - You’re So Cold

TRACK REVIEW:

After London

PHOTO CREDIT: @kramerdoingbits

You’re So Cold

9.4/10

The track, You’re So Cold, is available via:

https://open.spotify.com/track/6mksUb1V7ocgnGOYp0Muqh?si=BBMG9OgMSr2cNUg2rfcLdA

GENRES:

Alternative-Rock; Punk; Alternative

ORIGIN:

London, U.K.

RELEASE DATE:

12th October, 2018

_________

WHEN thinking about After London…

PHOTO CREDIT: @kramerdoingbits

I get to look at bands and those working in the U.K. right now; how artists can change sound and keep on developing; competing in a heavy market and standing out; songs that mix in Punk and Psychedelic sounds; female-led bands and why I am particularly involved; getting all your social media considerations sorted and cemented; a little about how bands can translate live – I will end by looking at After London and how they can progress. I wanted to start by addressing bands that can start out with one frame of mind and then change to another. I am a fairly new convert to After London and what they are all about. The sounds they are putting out right now have plenty of energy and biting moments and there is something a little weird and tripping to be discovered. After London started as an acoustic band a few years back and they decided to ditch the acoustic guitars and crank up the volume. It is interesting seeing how artists can develop and evolve through the years. It would be interesting to hear some of the early After London recordings and the leap they have taken. I don’t think any band/artist comes into music with a set sound and has it all sorted out! They mould and develop; they keep pressing and pushing and they always look to see how far they can go. Most of these changes are not that radical but, in terms of After London, they have made quite a step in regards their tones. From acoustic sounds and something a little calmer, they have harnessed their inner-beasts and taken a sharp turn. That decision came a few years back and it seems like they have settled into what they do. I am always interested seeing how bands change things and whether they stick with what sounds right. By that, I mean artists often feel like they have the ‘right’ sound and are unwilling to bend and try something new.

PHOTO CREDIT: @kramerdoingbits

After London are always moving and change between songs and they are not willing to stand still. The guys want to keep their songs fresh and original so that means taking risks and experimenting. I am a fan of what they are putting out now but feel, in a little while, they will be trying yet another direction and seeing what they are capable of. What is brilliant is how confident and assured the band sound. There is that connection and chemistry in the ranks and, with that, comes a large amount of trust. I am not sure whether songs are written by the whole band or their lead, Francesca, pens the songs. There is a democracy and definite bond in the band and you can hear how comfortable they feel around one another. If you have that respect and are on the same page; it is easier to mutate your work and push things forward. My overall point is how difficult it can be for some artists to alter what they do because they fear commercial failure or something will go wrong. I have heard a lot of bands, between songs or albums, try new stuff and genres and it can sound a little clumsy. After London are a comfortable and assured band who seem effortless and natural when they are writing meaty riffs or evoking something dizzying, acidic or romantic. You get so much love and life in the music of After London and I am impressed how far they have come and how accomplished they sound – I expect this to continue through the years and it will not be long until they are getting some huge gigs. There are so many bands out there and I can always detect the ones who will reign and shine for years to come; those who sound lacklustre and tired are often unwilling to amend their music and step into new territory.

PHOTO CREDIT: @kramerdoingbits

After London stand out because they have great songs and, as I have said, they tweak what they do and they have changed quite a bit since their inception. You cannot just come into the market with good songs and expect to survive and be taken to heart. You need to provide more and consider every single angle. I feel a lot of artists do not realise how much work is required and what it takes to endure and resonate. After London have an understanding of the market and they make sure they take care of every single thing. Their sound is complete and original but you can hear shades of modern and classic artists in what they do. Little bits of artists like Anna Calvi come into the vocals/guitars and there are Punk shades; a few elements of other acts but, essentially, it is a band who are knowing of what they want to achieve and have forged their own identity. Getting their music and sound solid and focused is a hard thing to do and I wonder what discussions went on behind the scenes. I hear so many bands who change things up a lot and are still looking for their footing. It is tricky having something perfect and appealing right from the off and many artists take years to hit their peak. I feel like After London will move and continue to explore but they seem like they have hit gold. Apart from sounds and dynamics; you also have to consider your live performance and other factors. The band’s name, for one, strikes me and holds interest. I discover so many artists who have a forgettable name or something that is pretty ordinary. A lot of times, bands have rather silly names and it can be hard to connect with them. ‘After London’ is a great name and it makes you wonder where that came from. It may sound like a minor factor, but getting your name right and song titles standing out is vital. Alongside everything else, the band have a great social media outlet – as I shall explore in a bit.

Another reason why I wanted to look at After London is the fact they have plenty of nuance and personal appeal. You listen to their songs and new things are revealed through time. Layers emerge and you spot stuff that was missed the first time around. I am not sure whether that is because they hone and practice a lot before hitting the studio or whether live performance have given them new edge and abilities. In any case; what you get is a band who keep coming to mind the more you play them. I look at publicity photos of them and you feel like there is a lot of cheer and love among them. I have not met them personally but I can tell they are a fun and hungry band. I love the photos they have out there right now but wonder if there are more shoots coming. The band shine from the page and you are attracted to their style and sense of pull. Maybe that is something that comes naturally to them but, when you mix it with everything else they do, you get the complete package. There is so much to consider and ask yourself when you come into music. It is a really challenging industry so you need to make sure you have everything figured and accounted for. After London have the ammunition to succeed and thrive and they tick all of the boxes. I am not sure what they have planned for the coming years and how they want to move forward but the guys are rock-solid and they have so much love for what they do. This all shows when you see them live or hear one of their songs. Everything pops and you are beckoned in by a band who wants to go a long way and have a lot more to say. The sounds they make, and how they mix genres, is a reason why I like what they do.

I am hearing a lot of bands with Punk snarl but a lot of it sounds rather insincere and vague. Not that After London are all about Punk and that is their only genre; they have that in their locker and make their songs explode and shine. Listen to Ceremony Waits and You’re So Cold and you can sense that energy and spit coming from the front. One gets melody and colour with the band but it is the way they come out of the traps and the physicality they display that really gets to me. I feel Punk is a genre that is coming back a lot more and something that is grabbing the critical ear. We are living in a time when things are fractured and the people are divided. I am not sure whether things will get better and where we are headed but many artists are responding by creating something angrier and more electric. After London are concentrated more on personal endeavours and concerns but I wonder whether they will take in more political and social concerns for their future material. After London have a bit of attack and lunge in regards a Punk dynamic but they lace in something Psychedelic and fuse that with other genres. This is a combination that works really well and I would like to see more bands follow in their footsteps. I guess bands like The Wytches and a few others do this but it is quite rare. If the lyrics and vocals were quite unfocused and average then the sound would not count for much. As it stands; every facet and angle is great and the band has this brilliant foundation. They can talk about cold hearts and unwanted attentions and do so in a fresh and unexpected way. I wonder why Punk is making a comeback and whether political considerations are bringing this out of artists. After London bring their own blend and version to the party.

PHOTO CREDIT: @kramerdoingbits

Before I move on to another theme; I want to stay with Punk and what it is capable of. It is an interesting and bold genre that has room for manoeuvre and you can get a lot from it. After London seem to tip their hat 1970s Punk and something raw but they mix that with a more modern version. It has some softness around the edges but you get that fizzy and busting sound coming from the centre. It is hard to put into word but you get an unexpected combination with After London. It is amazing how they have changed from this acoustic band that was very different to how they are now and how settled they appear now. The full force of their Punk movements comes to life in their live performances and this is another area where they succeed. I do not get to too many live gigs – for one reason or the other – but I am hearing great things about After London and what they can do on the stage. The band can create a storm from the stage and have been lauded because of their connection, powerful performances and sense of bond with the audience. It is clear they love what they do and they feel very natural on the stage. What you get from After London is a potent and varied live set and a memorable experience. The guys are tight and complete and they can replicate what they do in the studio to the stage. Rather than lazily copy that studio sound; they inject something different into their live show and provide the people with something a little different. It is amazing seeing how a band can sound different on the stage and how that varies to how they sound on record. I am trying to cover every angle regarding After London and what they are about. I must consider the makeup of the band and why that is important.

PHOTO CREDIT: @kramerdoingbits

Maybe it is not wise to highlight a band because they have a female member but the fact they are female-led means there is a different aspect to them. You either get all-male or all-female bands but those who mix genders tend to hit my hardest. I know there are quite a few female-led bands out there and each of them provides their own take and magic. The reason why I raise this point is you get something different in the composition compared to the vocal. It is hard to put into words but there is a different story and physicality coming from the back as there is the front. This gels really well and you get two-layered songs that stand in the mind. I am always on the look-out for female-led bands and female artists and do not feel like they get the credit they warrant. A female voice, to me, holds more potency and potential than a male one. Maybe it is something emotional or instinctual but I am a bigger fan of the female sound. Francesca does not follow others or feel the need to replicate male artists. She has own sound and blends perfectly with Bryon, Will; Jake and Alex. The entire band fuses brilliantly but it is the vocal and how they resonate that gets to me. More and more; I am hearing female-led Punk bands emerge and it is a very popular combination. I still think the industry pays too much attention to men and does not really consider women as much as they should. I have talked a lot about Punk and what After London do but I feel one of the reasons why they are so popular – no offence to the rest of the band! – is that female lead. I wonder how long it will take until bands like After London get Glastonbury headline spots and can succeed the men. It is a shame there is still this sexism and the music industry is still not as evolved and conscientious as it should be.

I am keen to move onto a song but, before I arrive, I should explore that female tone and why mixed-gender bands are exciting. You get different emotions and sounds coming from the songs when you have men and women in the group. I am not saying there is a distinct ‘male’ or ‘female’ sound when you listen to music but I can detect a discernible shift between all-male and all-female bands. The writing, to me, seems to be more developed and intriguing when you consider someone like After London. The performance and sound is more varied and there is a lot more to get involved with. I do tend to find, especially with all-male bands, there is a lot of rivalry in the ranks and relationships can turn sour. I am not suggesting a mixed-gender band is more secure but there tends to be more harmony and diplomacy between them. After London sound pretty comfortable and happy around one another and their music has strengths and contours I have not found with other bands. I should stop talking about various sides to what they do and come to the music itself. They have released a double A-side single but I have decided to pick You’re So Cold – Ceremony Waits is the other side of the record. The band has been working hard and both songs sound incredible. They have different tones and stories and both have been played on the live stage. The reason I chose You’re So Cold is because it is a live favourite and I was interested seeing how it sounds when recorded in the studio. It makes me wonder where they go from here and what they have planned for next year. I shall explore their future and what is coming up in the conclusion but it is the right time to get involved with a great new song from After London.

PHOTO CREDIT: @kramerdoingbits

I wanted to concentrate on You’re So Cold (as opposed Ceremony Waits) because, to me, it leaps from the gate quicker and seem to have an edge. Punchy and bold drums get the track springing forth and, curiously, there is a little bit of the 1980s in the sound! Maybe I am thinking about the similarities between the first seconds of You’re So Cold and My Sharona! That may sound little a jab but it is actually quite cool! Soon enough, the song goes in another direction and, actually, there are still bits of other decades. When the heroine comes to the microphone, combined with squally guitars and cool shred; I detect a little bit of influence of 1990s Alternative and some older-days Punk. The lead talks about a subject who is cold and she seems to take pleasure in informing them of the fact. You are not aware, from the off, whether it is a man or a woman but there is a definite sense of edginess and mistrust. The band whips up a combination of Pop king and Punk grit as the track warps, hovers and vibrates into the stratosphere. Our heroine’s voice is alive and unleashed as she stretches words and makes other explode like a bomb. It is never too intense and violent but it also never lacks vibrancy and stun. The opening moments of the song are about that mantra: letting the anti-hero(heroine) know they are cold and ensuring that gets into their head. Before a verse has come; the band get you dancing and motivated with a scintillating and tripped-out composition. It is a catchy and springing sound that gets under the skin and pricks the imagination. The bass comes through and guides as the heroine asks their subject whether they are on her stage. I can hear the influence of Dream Wife and songs like Hey Heartbreaker in the way the words are projected and enunciated. There is a little bit of classic Punk and bands like Blondie; a bit of the great Psychedelic bands and some shades from the modern-day cannon.

PHOTO CREDIT: @kramerdoingbits

One can name artists that are influential to After London but it is their own skin and sound that defines what they are about. You’re So Cold is a song that gets in your head because it comes from them and nobody else could come up with it. So many bands go in with clichés and predictable formations. After London have something different in their locker and it is that fresh and original perspective that shines. The heroine asks whether they are fools (her and her lover) and whether they can provide what they promise. Maybe it is a straight-up look at a relationship that is going sour but I wonder whether something wider and more general is being presented. The vocal is constantly exceptional and changing as each line has a different sound and, before you know it, there is a violent scream or an exclamation you did not see coming. The song is always winding and twisting and that is down to the way the band combines. The composition remains fairly unobtrusive in the early phases but it brilliantly backs the heroine who is keen to get her words out and have her say. It appears things have gone wrong with someone she knows and that fall-out has been severe. After a rather physical and direct vocal; you get this zither/theremin-inspired guitar sound and it gives the track a spaced and cosmic aspect. What gets to me is how the two different worlds and sounds can fuse and sound natural alongside one another. The band never sound forced and everything hangs together perfectly. It seems like there used to be a bond and sense of connection between the two but now things have gone wrong. The villain has been cruel and burnt any chance of love; left the heroine feeling foolish and taken too many liberties.

Inside of all of this; there is a hope things might last – she can be a horror and her lover can be a freak – but maybe that is clinging on to old memories. It is the way the words are presented and how the story comes to life that really gets to me. Always energised, emotive and stylish; it is a compelling and memorable performance that brings the song to life and ensures it stays in the brain long after you have heard it. When you hear the chorus and that sentiment of the other being cold; you wonder how things went wrong and what happened. I am interested unpicking the song and is roots but it seems like After London will not disclose all of their secrets. You’re So Cold is a brilliant song that sounds very modern and relatable but definitely has some of its D.N.A. in the past. The band are consistently solid and inspired and, backed by an incredible central vocal, you are compelled by every note of You’re So Cold. Maybe the Dream Wife comparisons are a little strong in some places but that need not be a bad thing. After London are a very different proposition and do things in their own way. If you want to discover a great new band that will stay with you and have the potential to go a long way then you’d do right to get behind After London. I am excited to see where they go next and whether there is more material in the pipeline.

PHOTO CREDIT: @kramerdoingbits

With a couple of new songs out, I am excited to see where After London can go and what they planning next. The new material they have out is amazing and it is already gathering airplay and positive reviews. I am not certain whether they have an E.P. or album arriving next year but there will be more material I am sure. It is great seeing them develop and how far they have come. Keep abreast of their social media pages for gigs and what they have arriving but I would recommend you catch them if you can. What strikes me about After London is how committed and determined they are. Their social media pages are great and it would be good to see yet more images and photoshoots from them. They are always keen to keep people updated and connected and I know they will continue that. They have a fantastic sound and clear bond and that is a reason why their music sounds complete and solid. That pace and energy will carry into 2019 and I feel they will continue to make steps and improvements. Bigger gigs will come and they will keep on building on what they do. I can see the big steps they have made and how their music has changed since the very start. If you have the opportunity to see After London on the stage then I would recommend that. They are getting gigs in London and around the South but I think they will get bigger gigs and have the chance to travel around the country. The band seem like they would be great in other continents and 2019 might provide that platform. Let’s consider where they are now and how good songs like You’re So Cold sound. You can detect how confident they are and how much love they have for what they do. This is great to hear and next year is going to be a huge one for them. Take a listen to what After London are putting out and get behind their next moves. I am a fan of their work and will be behind them as they move forward. Maybe they are in the underground right now but it cannot be long until they…