Label: Warner
Released: 25th February 2022
From the opening plinky-plonk and winding guitar of ‘You In Everything’, it’s clear that ‘angel in realtime.’ is going to be a great listen. It’s an album of grief and learning and heritage inspired by the loss of Gang Of Youths frontman Dave Le’aupepe’s father, taking influences from everywhere and everything from The Gaslight Anthem to Mumford & Sons.
Single ‘Angel of 8th Ave’ is catchier than most with a driving rhythm under luscious stabs of acoustic guitar and the refrain of “there’s heaven in you now” running around ears for days, while one of the album’s more tender moments comes in the form of ‘Brothers’, with Dave singing about learning of his father’s adventures as well as re-discovering his own heritage and family in his process.
The orchestral manoeuvres are special too, with the strings elevating so many songs such as ‘The Man Himself’ and ‘Unison’ and feeling more emotional in the process. The closing track ‘Goal of the Century’ caps off the album, and is a true emotional journey stretching over seven minutes long in the process.
‘angel in realtime.’ is a truly great record that doesn’t hold back on its emotions or its storytelling.
