“The words that fail, will always lead on.“
During the lead up to Lonely The Brave‘s latest record, What We Do To Feel, my memories were stirred as I opened their archives. Their discography serves as a reminder as to perhaps how underappreciated the Cambridge group were during its release. Early material such “Hope There’s Someone” and “Backroads” had a heartfelt breadth like nothing else at the time. What followed on Things That Will Matter further entrenched the argument that Lonely The Brave could be placed as one of the UK’s finest alt-rock bands. Given the wider success of other bands at the time, and even now, there is a sense that they should have been more celebrated at the time.
Much of this came from David Jakes‘ remarkable and distinct vocal performances that contained a potency posed in delicate nature. And when the time came that Jakes departed, it seemed somewhat difficult to place how Lonely The Brave would replicate some of the magic they had conjured on previous material. The offering on The Hope List which saw the debut of new vocalist Jack Bennett, and while it was a serviceable record put forward in difficult circumstances, it struggled to regain any of the momentum previously lost.
As What We Do To Feel opens there is something to be said of the warmth that comes across on “Long Way” and “The Lens“. As the third track “Our Sketch Out” develops, it also becomes something that draws the ear in. One will find themselves taping their toe to the subtle beat of the drum across the record, and the projection behind Bennett‘s vocals will also sink itself in.
The following track “Victim” rumbles in to ensure What We Do To Feel doesn’t enter too much of a cosy state, with layered harsh vocals in the background and a combative guitar tone that offers a stark moment. The record then drops itself back into dulcet tones on “Colour Me Sad“, which does feel somewhat jarring, as What We Do To Feel enters its middle stretch. It feels like atmospheric interlude “The Ramp” that follows could have perhaps been better placed here.
The jostling riffs and rudiments on “The Well” present a track that has a heartening element to it that maintains the warmth, and the more drawn back moments are absolutely gorgeous too. “Unseen” sees Lonely The Brave loosens the chains emotively as they indulge in a more dramatic track. What We Do To Feel closes out on a potent melancholy on “The Bear“, a track that is equally introspective as it is expansive in its grandiose nature.
It’s difficult not to take heart in what Lonely The Brave have pieced together with sincere thought, and perhaps with the grace of lesser expectations, many may regain faith in the project. While it by no means reaches the highs of their releases from the previous decade, there is enough here to enjoy and embrace. This should see Lonely The Brave remerge as a noteworthy addition to the UK’s alt-rock scene.
7/10
What We Do To Feel is out November 10th via Easy Life Records and can be pre-ordered here.