Fusing alternative rock, psychedelia, and soulful blues, Sailing In My Mind is the impactful sophomore album from London-based duo Roar Idle. The project pairs evolving guitar work and grooving rhythms with atmospheric, sea-laden lyricism, also utilizing moody synths and multi-layered harmonies while thematically addressing love, longing, and dreams — resembling a sound that resembles a cross of Radiohead and Geese. The project comprises Ro Arora (guitar, vocals), Olly Massey (bass guitar on tracks 5-8, drums), and former member Adam Kingsley (bass guitar tracks 1-4). The bass work especially is magnetic throughout. Olly took over bass duties upon Adam’s departure.
The album’s title track stuns with its vocal dynamics, swelling from lush introspection to an affecting multi-layered emotion, sending chills past the first minute prior to an emergence of more rollicking rock ‘n’ roll charisma. Shades of Cameron Winter show in the enjoyable vocal presence. The subsequent “Waiting For Fire” achieves a delightful rock evolution too, expanding from punchy guitar pulses into a psych-ready array of dreamy, harmonious backing vocals and free-flowing guitars.
“Island All Alone” is another resonating standout. “I see you, I feel you,” a woozy vocal presence coexists with laid-back guitar work, achieving a quivering suaveness with shades of Grizzly Bear as the “all alone” introspection hits alongside twangy guitars. Beautifully lush guitars continue into the final minute, enveloping in its replay-inducing production. “Cora” delights as well, showcasing the project’s knack for climactic structural unveilings in its movements from trickling guitar subduedness to a midpoint of moody synths and jangling entrancement. Sailing In My Mind is a definitive full-length success from Roar Idle.
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“Island All Alone” and other tracks featured this month can be streamed on the updating Obscure Sound’s ‘Emerging Singles’ Spotify playlist.
We discovered this release via MusoSoup.
