25 years following their previous album, Oxford trio Unbelievable Truth return with a new full-length in Rich Inner Life, a release abundant in excellent songwriting — likely to satiate their long-standing, devoted fans, as well as bring in a variety of new listeners. An emotive, atmospheric melding of rock, pop, and folk shines throughout the release, whose nine songs span from the hooky momentum of “You’ve Got It” to the serenely expanding intrigue of the closing track.
“You’ve Got It” opens the album with moody allure, intertwining solemn piano pulses amidst sturdy rhythmic undercurrents as vocals emerge smoothly. “As soon as you want it, you got it,” they ring out during the immersive central hook, where ghostly backing vocal elements build alongside brisk guitar strums and soundscape-rich piano work. End-of-days lyrical scene-setting pairs with a climactic tonal expanse for a riveting kick-off to Rich Inner Life, which continues to enthrall with the ensuing album title track. There, a more delicate arsenal of twinkling keys and tender acoustics intermingle. “My past is a closely guarded thing, but occasionally someone got in,” the vocals consume, sending chills as further vulnerabilities unveil in the gorgeous “afraid of you then” refrain.
Rich Inner Life delights in its high-quality songwriting throughout, and that’s particularly indicative on standout track “Funny Peculiar.” The initial guitar work trickles with a classical-styled elegance, full of beautiful mystique. A striking shift then takes hold, as the guitars expand into a flourishing jangle-pop charm. Debonair, observational vocals venture into a fervent hook — conveying the desire for a way out — and then into a lovely second half, where layered vocal dreaminess repeats a “used to be fine” mantra as grippingly hypnotic guitars and mellow keys blend seamlessly.
The highlights continue from there, spanning from the hopeful folk effervescence of “Eventually” to the impactful finale “A Clear Line,” touting a sophisti-pop nostalgia with its starry-eyed synth tones and solemn vocal work. The swell into an orchestra grandeur, from the haunting initial atmospherics, reminds fondly of Prefab Sprout. Rich Inner Life is an enthralling success of an album from Unbelievable Truth.
