Isn’t it cool how music can take you for a trip down memory lane. Well that’s just what Tancred’s latest self titled album did for me.
Tancred is the solo project of Jess Abbott, a member of indie-rockers Now, Now, who are touring the US at the moment.
I first heard Tancred’s new stuff a few days ago after it was released through Topshelf records on October 15.
Her soft, feminine drones, and ragged guitar riffs take me back to a Summer three years ago, where I spent my time as an angsty, half-in-love 18 year old, immersing myself in the likes of artists such as Jacks mannequin, Death Cab For Cutie and Anthony Green.
She definitely reminisces a sound somewhere between what Paramore and Andrew McMahon do.
Tancred provides something that we haven’t heard in a while but in a uniquely encapsulating way. There is something really revitalising and cool about female indie-rock. Whatever it is, Jess is onto it.
Each of the tracks aren’t particularly long, and draw you in with emotional vocals and driving rock instrumentals, before abruptly ending on least expected notes. The effect: leaving you wanting more.
Driving, windy guitar riffs and touches of subtle keys, along with steady drum beats and Jess’ emotionally evocative vocals would be enough to draw you into her music, but on top of that she throws in some really raw and powerful lyrics, that make it hard for your ears to ignore.
Two stand out tracks on the record for me were Allston and The worst kind.
Allston is a lot more upbeat than a lot of the other tracks on the record and is driven by a catchy guitar melody and fast paced underlying drum beat. The track builds as it goes along, prompting you to do nothing else but to bop and clap along to it.
The worst kind, opens with slow, melancholic piano tones, and carries beneath Jess’ soft, emotionally fuelled voice. The contrast between her feminine harmonies and fragile, conversational tones, offer a much rawer and honest outcome in her music, making it more relatable and appealing. Her songwriting abilities in this song are particularly powerful and honest. She sings about failed love, and the disappointment in being unable to fulfil a love to the capacity that we desire. Something most of us will experience sometime during our lives.
In a nutshell, Tancred is one pretty raw, emotional and beautiful record.
Listen to it just once, I dare you. You will want to listen again, and again.
Allston – Tancred
Video Sourced: Topshelf Records
Chelsea Olle 