Over the summer of 2015, Circa Waves quickly became one the UK’s hottest new bands and the toast of the country’s festival circuit. Their mainstream appeal was obvious and indie anthems such as T-Shirt Weather and Fossils felt tailor-made for soundtracking carefree days in the sunshine.
A decade on and life today isn’t quite as breezy for the band. In 2023, frontman Kieran Shudall was diagnosed with viral pericarditis and forced into emergency heart surgery. This health scare completely changed his outlook on life, ultimately inspiring the creation of Circa Waves’ sixth album.
Appropriately, ‘Death & Love, Pt. 1’ is a collection of upbeat and introspective indie-rock centring around this near-death experience.
The first few tracks showcase a familiar strain of soaring guitar songs. Like You Did Before has big radio-friendly hooks and was written about a daydream of frantically dancing in an indie club that Shudall had immediately before his operation. Meanwhile, Le Bateau stands out for its shimmering synths, earworm hooks and a fantastic bridge containing a frenetic solo reminiscent of early Vampire Weekend.
The second half is far more delicate in tone, the singer emotionally naked as he explores his proximity to death. Over a solemn riff, Hold It Steady examines his fear of dying while paying tribute to the support he received from his wife. He sings to her again on the stunning acoustic-led Blue Damselfly, assuring her she’ll be OK if anything were to happen to him.
To finish, the tear-jerking Everything Changed sums up the radical shift caused by the surgery before the shimmering, upbeat closer Bad Guys Always Win signs off in a more joyful manner. ‘Death & Love, Pt. 1’ is a record of contrasts: hopeful and vulnerable, optimistic and poignant. A beautiful effort from a band maturing with each album.
Circa Waves Upcoming Tour Dates are as follows:
Fri February 14 2025 - BIRMINGHAM O2 Academy Birmingham
Sat February 15 2025 - NOTTINGHAM Rock City
Sun February 16 2025 - GLASGOW Barrowlands
Tue February 18 2025 - CAMBRIDGE Junction
Wed February 19 2025 - NORWICH UEA
Fri February 21 2025 - NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE NX
Sat February 22 2025 - MANCHESTER O2 Victoria Warehouse
Sun February 23 2025 - BRISTOL Beacon
Tue February 25 2025 - LEEDS O2 Academy Leeds
Wed February 26 2025 - LONDON O2 Academy Brixton
Thu February 27 2025 - SOUTHAMPTON 1865
Sat March 01 2025 - LIVERPOOL Olympia
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