ADULT LEISURE’S JAZZ-TINGED DEBUT ALBUM ‘THE THINGS YOU DON’T KNOW YET’ SHINES WITH 80s INFLUENCE AND HEARTFELT ALLEGORY
ALBUM REVIEW | ADULT LEISURE – THE THINGS YOU DON’T KNOW YET by Michaela Roper
After spending five spins around the sun producing ‘happy music for sad people’ the four-piece outfit Adult Leisure are bursting back onto the scene with their jazz-tinged, nostalgia-ridden project, The Things You Don’t Know Yet.
The Bristol alt-rockers are serving up a ten-track run of jangly gems on a well-polished silver plate, garnished with effortlessly cool collaborations with saxophonist John Waugh, of certified Indie Rock notability. It’s an album that oozes with 80s pop influences on standout tracks like ‘The Rules’ – layered with staccato riffs, twinkling piano, and lyrics plucked from a soundtrack to a coming of age film, it’s a tug-on-the-heartstrings kind of tune that shines a spotlight on Neil Scott’s tender vocal side.
The Things You Don’t Know Yet is a stellar debut album, releasing in the wake of successful stints of singles and EPs over their five-year career as a band. It’s an effortlessly-produced accumulation of the best of the best, rooted in an emotional core that is encased within toe-tapping rhythms and serendipitous melodies. Opening tracks ‘Hold Me Close (Before You Go)’ and ‘Boy Grows Old’ truly satisfy the craving for twangy dynamics and infectious melodic injections. The latter track offers a soundscape, accompanied by John Waugh’s impressive prowess on the brass, that is irresistibly hypnotic. It boasts a plethora of well-rounded sound with lyrical efforts akin to the likes of Sam Fender; raw allegorical storytelling that evokes heartfelt imagery, shrouded within the cushioning of rough saxophone textures and climbing overtones.
The album’s presence is cemented by Nathan Searle’s flawless impressions on the drums, providing a beating heart to each track that fulfils classic Indie Rock arbiters, with a touch of heartfelt flair. His efforts set the mood for emotions to soar amongst the rhythms of a danceable tune destined for a big stage. There’s a sense amongst the sonics of a book you just can’t put down – each song reels you in with a playful pulsation, and leaves you with a memorable poignancy that is simply unforgettable.
The Things You Don’t Know Yet disguises childhood nostalgia and yearning for better days in a multicoloured, shimmering outfit, propelled by tunes like ‘Kids Like Us’. There’s an instrumental similarity to the likes of The 1975 sitting on the surface of the vocal work and spanky stratocaster sound that goes down an absolute treat. Neil Scott’s lyrical stints deliver dancefloor energy whilst maintaining the classic heart-on-sleeve attitude that is quintessential to Adult Leisure’s discography.
Adult Leisure’s grittier side emerges from the shadows on ‘Borderline’ and ‘Kiss Me Like You Miss Her’ yet maintains a playful perkiness that you just can’t attribute to anyone else. The quartet have labelled their emotive side as ‘a reflection of where we’ve been as friends, as musicians, and as people trying to make sense of things’ – a sentiment that flows through these tracks like water. ‘Borderline’ is structured as an ode to broken hearts and what-could’ve-beens, an interrogative monologue with a driving bassline and a crisp instrumental arrangement.
The album boasts a string of songs that feel all-too familiar; lived experiences, and collective desire for youthfulness, backed by the luxury of hindsight. As a final goodbye to the album, ‘The River’ places a bookmark in brighter chapters to highlight a refreshing acoustic ballad. A set of soaring strings close out a well-rounded, musically mature project that showcases the best of Adult Leisure’s shimmering discography. There’s a fire in these boys’ bellies that you just can’t put out, and is bound to burn through the ceilings on their UK tour later this year.
