86TVs PICK UP WHERE THEY LEFT OFF WITH POST-MACCABEES ALBUM DEBUT

ALBUM REVIEW | 86TVS – 86TVS (self titled) by Tom Jenkinson | 3/5

It is probably somewhat a misnomer to refer to 86TVs self-titled “debut” album as such; although the first offering from the band formed from the ashes of The Maccabees, this cluster of songs is the result of five years of writing from brothers Hugo and Felix White. The 15-track album feels less like a band experimenting to find their sound and their audience and more like a continuation of where they left off.

Fans of The Maccabees won’t be disappointed with tracks such as ‘Higher Love‘ or the indie-bop ‘New Used Car‘ featuring Jamie T with its soaring chorus hook “Nothing lasts forever/ gotta live for today”. However, for listeners looking for an album of more depth, 86TVs might be a bit of struggle at times: the multi-layered production values may feel akin to a more experienced band (than say, a band testing the waters of their first time in a professional studio) but at times it feels like the glossiness and studio tricks are used to cover the vagueness of some of the lyrics. On the flip side, if you are looking for something to singalong to then there is plenty on offer here and elsewhere. Tracks such as ‘Someone Else’s Dream‘ will definitely find their home on the British festival circuit.

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There are moments of surprising grit which I wish there was more of. The short but punchy ‘Tambourine‘ has the kind of guitar/bass sound which make the album exciting and suggests this outfit have it in them to be darker and more expressive. Tracks such as ‘Modern Life‘ and ‘Days of Sun‘ feature even more impressive-sounding guitars that wouldn’t be out of place at the fingertips of Graham Coxon. These moments are peppered throughout the album which help sustain momentum through what would have the potential to be a slog at times with slower ballads. The sheer number of tracks do also lead me to wonder if at times the album feels like it meanders without taking us down any unfamiliar or untrodden paths; ‘Spinning World‘ and ‘Settled‘ feel more dream-like and pretty, but quite quickly I am lost in the depths of the album and waiting to be taken elsewhere.

What is evident from this offering, is that 86TVs are a band that know how to fill the sonic space: brothers and band-leaders Hugo and Felix White lean on each other vocally to provide rich harmonies, meaning tracks like ‘Days of Sun‘ and ‘New Used Car‘ will feel at home in front of large outdoor audiences this summer, as the layered vocals already invite the audience to singalong. There is no doubt that 86TVs is a mature output sonically, with each instrument carefully given its place and space on the record to shine. However, there is a risk that at times this fails to excite or challenge the listener. For sure, this record is a comfortable listen from a band that, despite their “debut” tag, know what they are doing. It doesn’t do much to convince the listener that this is an exciting departure for pastures new post-Maccabees but for those who are looking to fill the gap left by their former band, then this will hit the spot.