Review Summary: A meandering autumn stroll through the past 20 years.
It has been eight long years since we were last treated to the lilting intricacy of a
Signal Hill album; 2016’s dreamy
Alturas being the last full length the Californian four-piece released. A 7” split with
North End in 2020 showed there were still signs of life in the band and now, with their 20th anniversary upon us,
Signal Hill bring us
Discarded Futures.
For those familiar with
Signal Hill’s sound, you’ll find a band truly comfortable in their own skin on
Discarded Futures. Bright and melodic guitars interplay with delicate keys against a tight and almost jazzy rhythm section - it is a tried and tested formula but an effective one.
While previous records allowed for moments of ambience,
Discarded Futures is a more immediate affair with the band at their heaviest yet on "Inventing Consequences" and "Blessed Land". The more serene moments are absorbed into the shimmering climaxes of "Ponderlight", "Coral Dahlia" and the beautiful closer, "Reselving", instead of being standalone interludes.
An autumnal release for an autumnal album,
Signal Hill mark their 20 years as a band in style. They state that
Discarded Futures “is a journey through their signature sound” and it’s hard to argue against that - this record is a culmination of everything
Signal Hill do best. Here’s hoping the next record isn’t as long as eight years away.
