Album Review: “Lust For Life” by Courting

Courting, the energetic post-punk band from Liverpool, is set to create a buzz with the release of their new album, “Lust for Life,” which will be available on March 14th. This follows their 2022 debut album, “Guitar Music,” and last year’s epic release, “New Last Name.” This band has won crowds since 2018 with their thunderous rhythm and breathtakingly personal, evocative lyrics. The crowd-thrilling ambiance, combined with the sheer raw energy and swift tempo typical of punk rock, also provides a few moments of deep calm. This dynamic allows the audience to experience quite a mixture of excitement and profound thought. With “Lust For Life,” Courting explores uncharted sonic territory. This record skillfully positions Courting’s genre-defying boundaries within expansive and rich soundscapes, creating a chaotic yet unforgettable punk atmosphere. Each track is a masterpiece, incorporating spirited tunes and piercing words, thus documenting the evolutionary path of their music.

Although NME described referenced parts of the album as “beer-sloshing, indie festival anthems”, it steps beyond the constraints of nearly anything one could regard as “indie band” music. It provides intricate subtleties that really push those boundaries into a place that feels both new and multidimensional. This is, for me, an adventurous proclamation of creativity, showcasing an identity that does not rest on comparisons to anything nostalgic. This remarkable album stands out, deserving of its own array of accolades. Celebrated for its intricate layers and unwavering artistic vision, it weaves a rich tapestry of sound, adorned with dashes of vibrant orchestral and bold brass elements.

Courting has truly conjured something extraordinary here.

The album starts off with “Intro” (00:48) and with fast sweeping violin melodies as the main feature. Immediately from this energetic beginning, the aura of energy begins to take shape, setting the stage for a thrilling entrance into a whirlwind of vivid sound and emotion. This effectively commences a dynamic exploration of artistic and passionate phenomena.

After that comes “Stealth Rollback” (02:43), propelled along by a building intensity that recalls Prodigy’s ever-iconic “Breathe”. Explosive energy gives way to stirring, passing interludes of soft keyboard melodies, and deft transitions manage to illuminate disorder and peace along with the band’s masterful balance of raw power and touch.

“Pause At You” (03:07) is an outrageous mash-up of styles, showcasing Courting’s incredible talent at merging all sorts of other music. This ridiculously driving beat, emotive melody, and super sticky hooks have all the hallmarks of their truly inventive sound and can have listeners hitting replay again and again.

Next up, “Namcy” (03:12) lifts the album with a bouncy rhythm and a chorus you’ll never forget long after the track stops. Playful yet thoughtful lyrics partner lively instrumentation to make this jam as equally soluble in imaginative listening as it is in the indie bar jukebox in the Northern Quarter.

Indeed, that is where the band’s truly experimental impulse comes alive, the moment twisted by the unconventional rhythm of “Eleven Sent (This Time)” (03:44), thick with complex instrumental arrangements beyond the borders of identity. The energy in this vibrant track is constantly on fire, capturing the invigorating essence of youth in an extremely captivating and infectious way.

At two and a half minutes, “After You” (02:28) is, on the other hand, really effective. This is Courting at its finest, that tantalising interplay between the immediacy of alternative rock and the razor-blade skew of their own artistry. In a way, they have forged a sound that acknowledges rock’s brightest sparks while stamping their own identity all over it.

Six minutes and a half in length, the title track “Lust For Life” slows down with a varied-hued sound into which the unleashed band offers its skills in grand showmanship. Again, this is another genius track with an excellent underlying message that cannot be disputed and makes even the landlocked feel inspired by the open road. Compared to their brief 2-minute and 28-second piece “After You,” this new one, which stretches over six minutes, showcases that Courting can do it all. The extended duration of it all seduces possible transitions into and out of a much deeper emotional journey, truly highlighting the brilliant songwriting and musicianship that goes into it.

Onward, then, “The Most Likely Place for Them to Be” (03.08) ties a very urgent bow to seal the recording up. It epitomises adventure and possibility, weighed down by some seriously infectious grooves and thought-provoking verses.

Courting has pressed loud the present-day music scene by fusing punk rawness, melodic wizardry, and lyrics from the heart. This unique hammer-and-anvil fusion is what sets them apart and pushes the envelope. Instead of locking themselves into a single style or fully depending on retro metaphors, they truly have an adventurous spirit in mind and heart. Courting has made very much an album for adventure and dynamic motion through a door into a kaleidoscopic soundscape for the listener. “Lust for Life” is not music that can be pigeonholed; it is an expedition, a declaration, and an audacious statement of their undeniable evolution.

Lust for Life, Or: ‘How To Thread The Needle And Come Out The Other Side To Tell The Story’ is released on 14th March through Lower Third. Pre-Order / Save Lust for Life HERE.

The full dates for the UK tour are below, and tickets are available here now.

15th March – Leeds – Dark Arts at Belgrave Music Hall
31st March – Newcastle, The Grove
1st April – Glasgow – SWG3 (Warehouse)
3rd April – Nottingham – The Bodega
4th April – Manchester – Gorilla
5th April – Sheffield – Yellow Arch Studio
7th April – Bristol – Thekla
8th April – Birmingham – Mama Roux’s
9th April – London – Oslo

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