The Lathums delve into heartbreak and yearning.
March has brought us an onslaught of excellent new releases, among them is a brand-new album from Wigan’s fastest rising young band, The Lathums.
The lads released their highly anticipated sophomore album From Nothing to a Little Bit More on Friday Match 3rd.
Record number two follows the trio’s 2021 number one album, which charted above Drake, and elevated the lads’ status as masters of their craft. They’ve set the bar high, so will the new album live up to fans’ expectations?
The album opens with the sombre piano intro of ‘Struggle’. This is one of my all-time favourite Lathums tracks to date; soaring vocals build with raw untapped emotion into a soaring sad ballad in the band’s signature style, the listener is shown a vulnerable and fragile side to frontman Alex Moor as delves into themes of overcoming loss.
Elsewhere ‘Say My Name’ is equally packed with depth and meaning. This fan favourite goes off live, and for a good reason. The old-school indie powerhouse is packed with infectious riffs, rattling drums and an insane guitar solo from Scott Conception.
Indie-pop banger ‘Sad Face Baby’ has been my favourite Lathums track since I heard the singalong chorus live for the first time at TRNSMT. It offers an interesting juxtaposition, a common Lathums trope, with sonically cheery but with gloomy lyrics about a “mixed up messed up fucked up world”. Moore’s vocal prowess is unmatched here as his voice sails through the track with passion and sentiment.
Another highlight comes with aptly named ‘Turmoil’ which offers a stark sonic contrast in the form of a dejected, gentle ballad. Subdued piano, soft vocals and a powerful string section tug on the listeners heart strings.
Slow burning ‘Crying Out’ yearns and pines as Alex explores coping with loneliness. Despite the sadness of the track, Moore’s voice is still somehow still soothing as his vocals rise and glide. “I’m not asking for much, just need someone to grow old with” is a lyric that sticks with you.
I’m a sucker for a long song and closing track ‘Undeserving’ is a whopping eight minutes long and engages the listener throughout. Moore laments with sadness and hope pouring out of his vocals in this narrative-driven ballad, a perfect end to the album.
On From Nothing to a Little Bit More slower moments sit comfortably alongside the band’s heavier side. Soul-searching lyrics explore themes of loss, heartbreak and change, it is evident that their development as songwriters shines through from the beginning of the album to the very end. The record is an impressive advancement on their previous work, we can’t wait to see where they go next.