The album’s divided into four parts – corresponding with four sides on a double album in old currency – and each part is apportioned a broad theme – Mountains, Crators (sic), Feet, Minds. The album commences in rousing style, with a spirited acoustic guitar led folk song delivered with gusto and a strong, proud Scots accent.
At times delicate, ponderous and romantic, and others stirring and anthemic, and others still hushed and introspective it’s inevitable that comparisons to fellow Scottish acts like The Twilight Sad, We Were Promised Jetpacks (who they’ve supported) and Frightened Rabbit will eclipse the band’s own preferred points of reference, which include Brice Springsteen and Van Morrison. But all of these reference points and comparisons are just, and against them, the Dumfries teen trio hold their own.
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‘Into the Wild’ isn’t only an assured debut, but an album that shows a maturity of songwriting and musicianship beyond the band’s young years. These boys deserve to be heard.
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