ALBUM REVIEW | THE LATHUMS – MATTER DOES NOT DEFINE by Anne Kelly
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 5 out of 5.
Matter Does Not Define; the title of Wigan’s The Lathums, third studio album which is yours today. If you aren’t familiar with The Lathums yet then I can only presume you are living under a rock as the band have not one, but two No.1 charting albums thus far and have their sights set on the treble when they expectantly chart high next week. Barely checking in to the quarter of a century age bracket, The Lathums are proving themselves as one of the most exciting bands on the indie scene and Matter Does Not Define only elevates their position as one of the finest young talents in the world.
Album 3 see’s The Lathums deliver a strengthen state of maturity which reaches the sentiment of their debutHow Beautiful Life Can Be(2021) with the fiery depth that was unleashed in sophomore release From Nothing To A Little Bit More (2023) all whilst creating a strong character of its own.
The Lathums (credit: Orrin St. Pierre)
Confidently breaking in with then menacing swagger of ‘Leave No Stone Unturned’; The Lathums capture you seductively from the off. Opting for a Western twang to hook it’s listener, the tracks intro feels committal. It could have been played in a multitude of fashions and still deliver, however the retained simplicity is very desirable. ‘Reflections Of Lessons Learnt’ really hones ‘back to basics’, appearing as natural extension of their debut, in particular reminscent of HBLCB opener ‘Circles Of Faith’. A personal throwback moment which instinctively evokes sentimentality, putting the dedicated listener in a unique time capsule unable – and not wanting – to escape.
‘Stellar Cast’ is probably the strongest single on the new album. It holds a gripping mystique found in earlier favourites such as ‘I See Your Ghost’ and ‘Foolish Parley’ – a theatrical side of the band which suits them finely. ‘Heartbreaker’ on the other hand pays homage to the band’s Wigan ‘Northern Soul’-esque roots; an upbeat floor filling number which leaves you all fuzzy at the end.
At this point, now four tracks into the album, there’s a definitive flow being established. Reading like a story, the songs take you through a journey of emotions from hedonistic lust, thrill seeking passion to introspective wisdom, fight and bewilderment. The presence from long term collaborator John Kettle is felt throughout, grounding The Lathums consistently still ‘The Lathums’. With talent like theirs, the temptation to become experimental must be hard to resist. Yet, the sound they deliver is consistent and matured in equal measures.
‘Dynamite’ flows evocatively from ‘Heartbreaker’, staying on a similar lustrous vine whilst staying playful and sincere. Perhaps throwaway in terms of the album as a whole in comparison to the deeper cuts on the record, however, it’s moments like these which make The Lathums as charming as they are.
“There’s this song, ‘Unrequited Love’ – that’s a long, long time coming that one. Some certain songs, even though I think they’re great – obviously I would – sometimes they might not fit on a certain album or something might have already taken its place. It’s a crazy process, really. So I think that was one of the softer ones that don’t like, shout in your face and get you straight away. They sometimes creep under the radar a little bit.” – Alex Moore on ‘Unrequited Love’
‘Unrequited Love’ feels well positioned on Matter Does Not Define. A natural centre point for the album, it offers a moment to breathe and reflect after the more upbeat moments of the record. ‘Unrequited Love’ reigns in that emotional tension that has been building throughout, marking one chapter ending and another firing up.
The Lathums (credit Ewan Ogden)
On the flip side, ‘No Direction‘ amps up everything. The dynamic energy of this track gives the record the ultimate ignition to show listeners a raw reflection. The first single release from Matter Does Not Define before the album was even announced, the track bridged the transition between the current and the future of The Lathums.
The second half of the album is by far the more interesting slice of the record. Again, the sentiments from HBLCB keep creeping back in. In the purest state possible, the tracks continue to dig deep at Alex’s maturing lyricism and robust tones. ‘Until Our Bitter End’ is like the older cousin to 2021’s ‘I Won’t Lie’ – an intimate folk-rock’n’roll tune with will leave you feeling warm inside.
‘Knocking At Your Door’ is up there as a highlight of the new album. The swaggering blue’s inspiration carries the track beautifully and mysteriously. Again, throwing itself under the similar vain of earlier Lathums with a 2025 glow up, the song feels a not so far removed relative from HBLCB ‘Artificial Screens’. Just when you think you’re floating along to the melancholy, everything you expected to happen steps ups a few notches when waltzing blues rhythm switches things over with a fiery polka themed breakdown, allowing Alex’s vocals to take centre stage and flourish.
Another bluesy guitar lick welcomes ‘The Jester’ which continues the syncopated rhythm of it’s predecessor. Alex’s vocals shine in these moments; adding flair and intrigue to his story telling. Building tension through the changing rhythm, the band work together flawlessly to bring this energy to life.
The Lathums are sounding tighter than ever on this record; Duzz (Ryan Durran – drums) the beating heart of the band holding everything together, Matty (Matthew Murphy – bass) interweaving himself and his instrument as the unsung back bone of the four. But the real beauty of listening to The Lathums as a unit on this record is the intertwined musical spirits of Scott (Conception- guitar) and Alex (Moore – lead vocals), who have managed to capture an unmatched euphony together. The emotion that Alex pours into his delivery of the tracks is mirrored by Scott’s guitar. Like an extension of one another, intensifying the delivery of everything they offer.
‘Surrounded By Beauty’ is another stunning introspective writing from Alex. Always wearing his heart on his sleeve, some tracks happen to capture this reflection better than others – and this one is one of those. The real gem within this one though is the abrupt trumpet solo – performed by Red Rum Club talent Joe ‘The Blow’ Corby. An unmistakable sound from Joe, which feels right at home with The Lathums.
Matter Does Not Define ends on a sombre note, in the form of the previous single release; ‘Long Shadows’. Coming in just short of 5 minutes, Long Shadows is the longest track on the album; a slow burner which culminates in one of the rawest vocal deliveries that Alex has ever captured on record. Recorded in one take, the passion is haunting. Scott’s guitar solo over the most intense final moments of the song will take your breath away that by the time ‘Matter Does Not Define is finished, you want to spin it all over again. A grand finale which almost feels too personal, the raw vulnerability shared what makes The Lathums so authentic and relatable.
This album is a real turning point for The Lathums; a move which see’s them confidently take ownership of their sound and style without the pressures of commercialism. Those looking for back to back indie floor-fillers aren’t going to find them here, and therefore some listeners may feel a little lost coming into album 3 from album 2, which definitely saw The Lathums reach further into the ‘guitar band’ bracket than ever before. There are still plenty of crowd-pleasing moments, but some tracks might be considered ‘growers’ to the more passive fan. However, Matter Does Not Define is much deeper than that, it tells a story and captures so many different moods and emotions which will hit you differently on every listen. This is probably their most polished record to date, marking a transition for The Lathums and the much bigger things to come.
