Album Review: windings, Focus On The Past 5

Focus on the Past 5, the new album from Limerick-based alt-rock band windings, feels timely. Exploring themes of nostalgic melancholia and existential fear about the uncertainty of the future, it captures the somewhat confused zeitgeist of the times we’re living in.

It’s on their slower, evocative tracks that the quintet shine brightest. Early stand-out, ‘Black Widow’, masterfully captures the apathetic rhythms of early ‘00s indie rock, slowly unravelling into a wall of unbridled noise. ‘The Ground’, aptly chosen as the first single to be released, is another highlight – the breezy track deftly playing around with electronic melodies reminiscent of late ‘70s post-punk.

There’s another – more chaotic – side of Focus on the Past 5, found in tracks like ‘Busy Mind’ and ‘Apocryphal’, with the slow, contemplative rhythm thrown out in favour of energetic guitar solos and explosive drum lines. Although they don’t always manage to connect quite as immediately as the slower tracks, these songs showcase the band’s absolute mastery over their craft.

It’s a testament to the quality of the record that even the less innovative tracks, like the heavily The Cure-inspired ‘Breathe In’, are still a pleasure to listen to – aided in no small part by the top notch production, courtesy of Girl Band’s Daniel Fox at Sonic Studios. Excellent stuff.