It seems that a lot of friends of Static Sounds Club have new releases happening this summer. Amongst that motley crew are my good muckers from the Shropshire hills, Thought Bubble. Their music has always set its own trajectory and they have consistently established albums that excite the listener with their uniqueness. That sound has veered from electro psych to chillout house and world music of every flavour.
Lyrics, until now, have been relatively sparse in Thought Bubble’s output. But, at the beginning of 2024, synths player Chris Cordwell and percussionist Nick Raybould invited songwriter and vocalist Peter Gelf to join the group. Universe Zero, their sixth album, is the result. Adding vocals to the mix is exactly what you would expect a group like Thought Bubble to do. They push the envelope of their sound and take it off to new vistas. I’m incredibly excited to dive in and find out what we have in store.
Opener, ‘No Hiding’ is classic Thought Bubble. Its skronky, itchy groove gets your foot tapping immediately. Gelf’s vocals feel like they’ve been a part of their sound forever. They just float along on the vibe adding a new and welcome dimension. They’ve created a rather cool video whose visuals really draw you in to the track. Check it out here.
We enter new territory on ‘The Angel In The Loft’. The track opens with the band sitting back and giving us a proper introduction to their new vocalist. Gelf’s voice, rich and full of intent, is given centre stage, letting us really appreciate this new side to Thought Bubble. The minimal instrumentation is eerie and atmospheric wrapping the song in an enigmatic mist.
‘Their Own Scars’ maintains that minimal approach however this time Gelf layers his vocals in harmony. This brings a new punctuation to his delivery which is incredibly impactful. I’ve been really hung up on this track since first hearing it a few weeks back. For me it feels like the sound of a band discovering themselves all over again and revelling in the joy that brings.
Not content with fomenting a whole new sound the band evolve even further on ‘Six Stones’. This sounds like a lost Bowie track launched into the milky way. The inventiveness on show here breathtaking. The backbeat holds the song down while the synths strain at the heavens seeking freedom. As a shift in perspective goes, this just oozes cool and I’m loving it.
‘I Wish You Free’ is a pulsing, airy ballad. The lyric warm and inviting. It feels like the soundtrack to that dream you wish you could have again. You know, that one? The synths sound immense trading off between a sub bass wall of sound and a squelchy motif in the choruses. It’s such a relaxing song, I could listen to it all day. This track also features guitar parts by Shaun Bailey, who has added embellishments to each and every Thought Bubble release, somewhere! Raybould says “He’s like a good luck charm for us! We had to include him.”
We return to the cosmic jams of Thought Bubble of old on the expansive ‘Entropy’. With Gelf’s vocals in the mix I’m getting Peter Gabriel vibes such is the quality on show. I love it when bands get all experimental and just go where the music takes them. Thought Bubble are masters at this and the many winding turns in ‘Entropy’ are evidence of this.
As if hearing me write this Thought Bubble bring the album to a close on a masterclass in the art of musical experimentation. ‘Crystal’ is a staggering 13 minutes in length but not once do you find yourself looking at the clock. It’s an incredible journey through the Thought Bubble universe, exploring new tones, rhythms and textures along the way. I love how welcome this music makes you feel. No barriers are put up to impact your enjoyment of the experience, you just latch on to the groove and off we go!
Once again Thought Bubble have created a beautiful galaxy of grooves for us to visit. The addition of vocals throughout is nothing short of a masterstroke. The choice of Gelf as vocalist too is inspired. It’s like he’s been a part of the band forever. His parts feel, right, for want of a better word. Universe Zero is the sound of a band finding a new trajectory and hurtling themselves forward trusting in their collective vison and by God, it’s paid off.
Universe Zero is releasing early in July and will be available digitally and on limited edition CD from the Thought Bubble Bandcamp page.
You can follow Thought Bubble on social media here…
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