“I’ve got you on my mind and it’s killing me slowly.”
There is a hall of mirrors feeling to Ultra Q‘s sound, with its peppy vocals that seem reminiscent of early 00s pop rock, with a post-punk chords that wouldn’t seem out of place in material from the Yeah Yeah Yeah or Interpol in their heyday. Within this come reflections of Britpop, landfill indie and meshes of rock, and with which Ultra Q drive a fine line of a maze that while can be a thrill to navigate, yet only ever sees it look back in on itself.
Glitzy opener “Saturday” drives pitched guitars that build into anthemic chords layering the scene for Jakob Armstrong‘s vocals to enter in, with its opening salvo not feeling too distant from Lonely The Brave‘s “Backroads“. The similarly anthemic vocals that Armstrong delivers provide some quality, with “I’m giving into your dreams” soaring throughout the track. A mean bassline is pushed to the forefront of “VR Sex” that paces up My Guardian Angel, but it’s difficult to place a finger on a distinction, standing as a track with no rough edges.
Leaning back into Armstrong‘s performance comes “Rocket“, with its hooks being an early highlight on the record. This is before mellowing out on “Web Web Web“, which holds a sleepless atmosphere to it, and does perhaps indulge in too deeply. It is when “Klepto” hits that the longevity on My Guardian Angel‘s sound shows signs of shakiness; that while initially impressed with their EP, questions are raised at whether or not there is enough diversity in sound to have the legs for a full-length.
While some impressive chord work and breathy vocals that will feel familiar to those who have historically followed From Indian Lakes on “Slope“, it perhaps wasn’t the gear change that My Guardian Angel needed, but itss brief foray makes for a pleasant listen. Before entering its closing moments, “So Very Emo” is a highlight, blending pacey and noodly riffs and love-sick vocal hooks. It maybe does come off feeling a bit 2010s Skins, but there’s an inescapable charm to it.
Backed by a lo-fi beats for chill guys, “Dark Green” closes out Ultra Q‘s debut full-length, a paced track with a soft-touch that sees itself out on a familiar sunset. Throughout it’s 35-minute run time, My Guardian Angel is a well pieced together record that delivers a bonfire of retro-nostalgia, yet in turn this is also its biggest drawback. Each track drives that sense of ‘Who does this remind me of?‘ that has you delving into Spotify to try and find the artist, or reviving the memory an album you’ve not listened to for a decade. It’s difficult for My Guardian Angel‘s sticking point not to be this, despite all of the well-crafted talent showcased.
5/10
My Guardian Angel is out June 9th via Royal Mountain Records, and can be pre-ordered here.