There’s some amount of talent coming out of the emerald isle at the moment in the shoegaze and dream pop world. Joining the charge are Belfast’s Bobsled Team who are the DIY-duo of Olly and Kimberley. Very much like myself this pair are vinyl maniacs and like nothing better than the sound of an old valve amp and vintage 90’s recording equipment.
In 2021 the band released their debut album, The Colours Blur and were long-listed for the NI Music Prize. Citing the 80’s underground music scene and Sonic Youth as big influences they have made a name for themselves mainly through word of mouth. Now they are back with their follow up album called All the Flowers Bloom and Olly had this to say on the release.
“We wanted to create an album that took a little more time to grow on the listener. But really, we are just trying to make music that we enjoy. We love the freedom of recording the songs ourselves. Almost everything you hear is us just playing together in a room. We only record when we are inspired. We take our time, and we like to experiment. This time round I got obsessed with old tube amps and the sound of Steve Albini’s drums.”
Let’s see if Bobsled Team grow on us.
The album opens on the slacker ballad, ‘Blue Love’. Theres a real wibbly wobbly feel to the track that’s cemented together with a searing fuzz line. Kimberleys tender vocals weave amongst it all in a most other worldly way. It’s a strong opener and sets the bar high for the rest of the album.
As if hearing me say that Bobsled Team say hold my beer and in comes ‘Analita’. This is dreampop with a capital POP all in bold. The song is painted in the brightest technicolour chords with hooks for days. Check out that chorus, it’s just sublime.
Keeping the pace up ‘Wear it so Well’ is next. It wears two hats this one. In the verses it floats along on the bands twin vocals and minimal instrumentation. Then that chorus comes in and everything tightens up and we are propelled at pace on fuzzed put riffs and on point harmonies.
Taking the pace down a notch or two is ‘Bring It All Together’. Its falsetto vocal line immediately offering us a new texture to enjoy. The drums are brilliant, always moving and creating a really interesting space for the bass to inhabit.
‘See You Soon’ follows with its atmospheric and moody backing vocal contrasting with Kimberleys direct and melodious approach. It’s here we find the lyric lifted for the album title and I totally get it. This album is so bright and uplifting, It’s the perfect choice.
Using a call and response motif between guitar and vocals ‘Waiting for You’ gives us another glimpse into the bands balladeering songbook. Everything feels so precise and deliberate especially in those changes into the breaks.
So good they named it twice ‘Rewind, Rewind’ follows. This is another song where we get to enjoy the interplay between Olly and Kimberleys vocals. That instrumental breakdown halfway in is so neatly done. Switching up the rhythm before coming back bigger and brighter for the closing section.
Theres something about the vocal melody on ‘Time Goes By’ that’s making think of Springsteen. Can’t put my finger on it. Kimberley puts in stellar performance here. It’s their most ambitious track so far. Drums are bigger, melodies more complex and powerful. This one left me breathless.
‘Just Say’ again sits in ballad territory however its also the first time we hear both Olly and Kimberley rather than harmonising, sing the same vocal part in the chorus. It’s really impactful and turns your head every time.
The album closes on the utterly beautiful ‘Skin and Bones’. Featuring a delicately plucked guitar and the twin vocal approach it captures a real intimacy that is deeply affecting. It has me instinctively reaching for the play button to listen again. That’s how you finish an album.
In All the Flowers Bloom Bobsled Team have created a wonderfully whimsical album that explores all corners of their collective songwriting minds. It’s melancholic and yet uplifting, sometimes in the same verse (‘Wear it so Well’ I’m looking at you). Whilst they cite Sonic Youth and 90’s alternative guitar bands in general as touchpoints, that’s all they are. Those influences are worn in some of the chord changes and guitar tones maybe but Bobsled Team are their own thing. Intimate and vital at every turn.
All The Flowers Bloom is out now on very limited-edition vinyl and digital via the Bobsled Team Bandcamp page.
You can follow Bobsled Team on social media here…
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