The Brixton group, Will And The People have had a busy year so far, UK and European touring, Glastonbury, Stadium shows with Pop Princess’s Girls Aloud and a debut album, Morning Sun due for release on the 19th July.
The sound is something for everyone; it touches on reggae, ska, pop, indie and folk. There are touches of The Police, Paulo Nutini, and The Specials. It is upbeat, warm and happy. A sound for the summer.
Morning Sun is a collection of all the things above. Will Rendle’s voice is very likable and suits this style of music brilliantly, his guitar playing is pretty good too, and the acoustic rhythms throughout the album are upbeat and warm. The other instruments compliment everything beautifully too, the drumming is nice and provides a good laid back tempo, the keyboards compliment the guitar very well, the bass is gentle and plodding and the electric guitar used on odd tracks adds a different dimension to the group and a darker sound. The backing vocals from the group also add depth and help Will’s songs develop.
‘Troubled Pro’ is an infectious track, lovely soothing vocals set over a jangly, rhythm of warm acoustic guitar and gentle drumming. It rises and falls in tempo, gentle and mellow, then upbeat and melodic. The backing wails from the group support the track and adds depth.
‘Salamander’ is a high tempo, big track, lovely deep bass and scratchy electric guitar with the added depth from keyboards and the well timed drum skins and symbol crashes are wonderful. It is a lovely track, really catchy and fringed with reggae influence.
‘No Shame’ is back to the stripped back acoustic sound. Simple oohs and aahs from the backing vocals and a plodding drum beat take you to a happy place. The lyrics are lovely and simple, but very effective and the chorus is as warm and upbeat as the sunshine you can feel shining on your skin as you listen to this track.
‘Lion In The Morning Sun’ is a real toe tapper, the tempo changes from gentle sections, through to huge sounding chorus sections laced with trumpets which really set this track off. It’s a real ska infused track, simple, raw, upbeat and addictive.
‘Train’ is a mellow track, sad, love story lyrics and a different element to Will Rendle’s voice. The moody drumming sets this track alight; they take over the guitar as the main sound. Until later in the song, when the acoustic guitar is replaced by a simple electric guitar sound, while Will and the backing vocalists chant and howl, adding a tension and an emotive feel to the track. What this track lacks in the now familiar jingly, reggae sound, it makes up for with creativity and emotion.
‘Stranger’ is a funky, but ultimately dark and ghoulish sound, there is a touch of The Clash and The Specials here. Dark and simple electric guitar, deep bass sections and ghostly backing set the dark feel to this track, helped by brilliant sampling of spooky laughs and short sections of trumpet.
‘Eyes’ is funky and Latin in sound, temperate drumming, warm keyboards and gentle acoustic guitar with an added softness to Will’s voice give another summery feel, before trumpets life the song into a medley of lovely upbeat noise. The track rises and falls very cleverly adding depth and emotion to the lyrics, exactly when needed.
‘Propellor Heads’ starts like a Libertines track with jangly electric guitar and fast paced soft drumming, before Will explodes into voice, delivering his vocals at a frantic pace. The track then steadies into a reggae medley, Will’s voice and the backing beats alike, capturing the genre. It is an awkward mix of youthful rock and cool, relaxed reggae, but it totally works as it jumps from one to the other seamlessly throughout the track.
‘Mr Sketchy’ is made by the drum and bass section, it follows on the last track as it jumps between a rock sound to a reggae infused, beat filled medley. Upbeat then relaxed. The acoustic guitar plays over each tempo change brilliantly as the occasional trumpet sound adds a jazz element, it is busy, hectic and probably shouldn’t work but it does.
‘Blue’ is just that, blue. Mood filled with gently plucked acoustic guitars, backing vocals that contain a real sadness and an emotion from Will’s voice. This is far from my favourite track, but it is a brilliant illustration of the diverse range in Will’s voice and his ability when penning lyrics. The use of keyboards sporadically to add even more depth and emotion when needed are too very clever.
‘Golden Thunder’ is a track with mellow beginnings, before it lifts with warm acoustic guitar and a reggae drum beat. Violin sounds and backing vocals pull this track forward further before it falls back to its mellow beginnings. This is another lyrical accomplishment and the music captures them wonderfully.
‘The Game’ is another deep and moody track, the brilliant keyboard sounds make this track the deep accomplishment that it is from harrowing violin sounds and deep keys, to high gentle keys in places. The chorus of this track is brilliant, almost orchestral. The backing vocals sound distant from Will’s as they eerily ooh and aah in the background, adding depth and drama. The drumming rises and falls with the sound, setting the tempo brilliantly, allowing the vocals on this track to work their magic.
‘Misunderstood’ clarifies its raw and stripped back sound as the track begins with conversation as if the track was played in a rehearsal room somewhere and not in the studio. It sounds like a Live Lounge track. Will is back to his vocal best, with his Paulo Nutini esque sound. The simple acoustic guitar keeps the track going but allows you to listen closely to the lyrics and really appreciate them. Incredibly simple, but also incredibly good.
This is a cool, refreshing album full of melody and rhythm, the whole 13 track record is void of a bad track, instead full of lovely, happy, catchy tracks.
Stereoboard Rating 9/10.
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‘Salamander’ is a high tempo, big track, lovely deep bass and scratchy electric guitar with the added depth from keyboards and the well timed drum skins and symbol crashes are wonderful. It is a lovely track, really catchy and fringed with reggae influence.
