The Newcastle band’s unique charm, reflective spirit and uplifting nature makes for another highly pleasant listening experience.
When Maximo Park emerged almost two decades ago, their well-read indie pop formula pushed them to the top of the thriving British alt-rock scene. A sound so infectious some brief flirtation with the mainstream even occurred. The Newcastle band’s stock isn’t quite as high today, yet new album Stream of Life is performed as if they’re still in their mid-‘00s heyday: a familiar uplifting template packed with melodic charm.
Inspired by a short story by Ukrainian-born Brazilian writer Clarice Lispector and recorded in Athens, Georgia, the band’s eighth record isn’t a million miles from what you’d expect from a Maximo Park record, kept fresh through explored subject matters of introspection and frontman Paul Smith’s observations on society.
Their trademark sound of soaring guitars and singalong choruses dazzle on self-reflective opener ‘Your Own Worst Enemy’, with ‘Favourite Songs’ then possessing poppy riffs and defiant lyricism (“My best years are behind me/ but I’ll be damned if I’m giving up”) for the record’s standout track.
Some variety later proves they aren’t entirely one trick ponies. The acoustic finger-plucking on ‘Armchair View’ builds to a key-driven, atmospheric outro and a high-powered trade-off between Geordie and Georgia tones occurs on ‘Dormant ‘Til Explosion’ (featuring Vanessa Briscoe Hay).
Such variation is unfortunately tempered on the record’s weaker back half. We’re later saved by uplifting finale ‘No Such Thing As A Society’ – a touching closer in disagreement of a famous quote from former British PM Margaret Thatcher: “My family were told there’s no such thing as society / despite the evidence I find surrounding me” protests Smith.
Without breaking the mould sonically, Streams of Life maintains the Newcastle band’s lofty standards, carried, as ever, by the charisma of singer Paul Smith. Its unique charm, reflective spirit and uplifting nature makes for another highly pleasant listening experience.
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