Released:
Rating:
It’s dark, it’s light, it’s weird, it’s wonderful.
‘Album’ of ‘the Week’
Label: Barsuk
Released: 21st April 2017
Rating: ★★★★
Growing up is all trial and error. Charly Bliss know this better than most. With an debut album recorded and put back on the shelf because it didn’t capture their fizz-wizzing chemistry, the band hit the road to try and capture what they felt when they were together. In short, they were out for magic. The result is ‘Guppy’, full of attitude, personality and a ramshackle sound that permeates every big dream and niggling fear, it’s a soundtrack of turbulent change.
Early doors, Charly Bliss lay their cards on the table. “I think it’s cool I’m in touch with my feelings,” shrugs ‘Percolater’. There’s not an inch of ‘Guppy’ that shies away from dealing with that whirlwind either. Yet amongst the confusion of figuring it all out, the band are never unsure. Every idea is absolute. From knowing their grand adventure will see them “die in a getaway car” to ‘Westermarck’s inability to let go, Charly Bliss are hyperactive but everything they say is felt wholly and completely.
It’s not all sugar, either. Despite the lashings of glitter that is Charly Bliss in a room, the band admit they “lost my will to black hole,” and ‘Dairy Queen’ sees the band unremorseful as the death of a dog means they don’t have to compete for affection. Bounding between big and brash to unsure and insecure, ‘Guppy’ sees the band trying to find their place in it all. “I don’t want to scare you. I don’t want to share you,” sings ‘Scare U’ but even knowing the risks, the band don’t hold anything back. It’s dark, it’s light, it’s weird, it’s wonderful. It’s everything and it’s all over the place but the tie-die puzzle fits together perfectly. Complex and marvellous, this is Charly Bliss. Ali Shutler
