Gengahr - Red Sun Titans

Hoffnungsvoll veröffentlichten Gengahr 2020 ihr drittes Album „Sanctuary“ bei einem neuen Label, um dann festzustellen zu müssen, dass eine Pandemie allen Tatendrang ausbremsen und Optimismus verblassen lassen würde.

Aber das aus Hugh Schulte (Bass), Danny Ward (Schlagzeug), Felix Bushe (Gesang, Gitarre) und John Victor (Gitarre) bestehende Londoner Quartett hat offensichtlich wieder Hoffnung geschürt und kehrt mit sonnigem, leichtfüßigem Indiepop („A Ladder“, „In The Moment“), der mit reichlich Kopfstimme gesungen wird, ein wenig funky sein darf („In My Way“) und frühere Psychedelic-Rock-Aspekte gänzlich außen vor lässt, zurück. 

Für meine persönlichen Highlights („Napoleon“ und „Collapse“) muss man bis zum Ende des Albums durchhalten.

Die 11 Songs (zudem gibt es noch 3 Interludes) auf „Red Sun Titans“ strahlen am besten in einer Playliste neben den letzten Veröffentlichungen von Phoenix, Foals, Blossoms oder Two Door Cinema Club. An den Reglern und Mischpulten saßen im Studio Charlie Andrew (Alt-J, James, London Grammar) und Matthew Glasbey (Alt-J, Coldplay, Ed Sheeran).

„Red Sun Titans“ ist als CD, Kassette und LP erhältlich, die Schallplatte erscheint als white Vinyl und in limitierter Auflage auch mit alöternativem Artwork.

 

Upon resuming following a brief interlude, the listener is transported back to Gengahr’s earlier singles, A Ladder and In The Moment. These tunes demonstrate the band’s adeptness in crafting infectious pop melodies that have amassed a devoted following. (…)

Heels To The Moon is an atmospheric, bouncy number that is propelled by acoustic guitar and the steady drum beat of Danny Ward, with White Lightening then a more rock-influenced number, both tracks showcase the band’s ability to push the boundaries of genre, whilst maintaining in line with their signature style, which will surely satisfy existing fans whilst attracting new ones. (…)

Red Sun Titans is the sound of a band re-born, with the energy and inspiration from the past in their back pockets, Gengahr feel refreshed, with a bright, independent outlook for the future. Allowing them to embrace the idea of being the underdogs, the album is so good because of its message of Gengahr being a group of friends finding joy in doing what they love.

(Indie is not a Genre)

 

Revitalised, the new sound – or, tongue in cheek, now labelled ‘Gengahr 2.0’ – dabbles mainly with 90’s indie rock and psychedelia, traditionally the home of outfits like Glass Animals or Django Django.

Not everything – or at least the aspects that in the past made Gengahr intriguing in a crowded field – has been lost: Bushe’s playful, multi-octave voice gives the songs a familiarly pied-piper quality; opener Alkali flirts, butterfly-like, between brains and brawn, the story a plotting of the fine line between insomnia and a desire to be in the moment.

Having been on the sidelines for so long, participation is also the subject matter of In The Moment, its stop-start buzz and delicate guitar lines soundtracking nocturnal dreams whilst the vibrant, loved-up afrobeat of A Ladder is a reminder that making pop doesn’t always have to mean compromise or disposability.

These explorations of the way in which our inner child still tries to surface despite the barriers of adult life are a conscious attempt to divide Red Sun Titans into equal parts, Bushe revealing: “The album sits at that crossroads where you can still see the past, but you’re trying your best to embrace the future.”

(live4ever)