Adrift by Angry Blue Planet
This is the first album by this supersonic indie duo located near Seattle. Some have said the album format is dead — owing to the culture of consuming singles as perpetuated by streaming services. Angry Blue Planet decidedly disagrees. Inspired by master-crafted albums that came before, ABP have put together an album that is best enjoyed by listening to its entirety. There is an energy arc that takes the listener on a journey of highs, lows, and places in between. Through it all are conceptual threads exploring existential questions, insanity, capitalism, and the uniquely human experience of wrestling with our own mortality — finally closing with a reference to one dark answer to Fermi’s Paradox – Angry Blue Planet
Seattle based Angry Blue Planet are a Father and Son combo who make music that has many influences to my ears. It’s proggy/classic rock with an early 90s aesthetic. I hear Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Crowded House, Peter Gabriel/Genesis and some quieter Foo Fighters. I may be way off the mark but hey!
This was a hard one for me so I’ve put my thoughts down and then allowed my contradictions to stand because I want to make a point about somethings needing more than one listen…
First listen I wasn’t blown away, I liked it but. Now stay with me. It felt too clean to my ears, not edgy enough. I listened through, took notes and enjoyed what I heard. The next listen came the following day and it made sense. Yes, I could do with a little more edge but it opened up so much more. Maybe it was the frame of mind I was in. Maybe I had the wrong worzel head on. Who knows?
Anyway I was really taken with the vocals, especially the backing vocals. Guitars, bass are all played really well work but underneath those vocals and it shines. And man, those drums!
So ok, third listen in and we’re on the money now. And. It’s worth it.
This is a great album – it’s paced well, Thoughtful, lyrically clever without being pretentious and melodic. I was quite wrong on my first listen. This has real grit but also a polish that feels like real care was taken. I’m glad I went back, which tells me something caught early on.
Highlights?
Track 1 “Death Is A Wild Animal” is a song that wouldn’t feel out of place on a rock radio station. It builds, it tells a story and it’s performed beautifully. It has that early 90s rock vibe but Led Zeppelin feels like it’s in the DNA but that’s not quite it. There’s something else…
Track 2: “Wait” grooves, the drums push that bassline – just pushes it along until it hits the backing vocal drenched chorus. The production really words but again it’s the Drums and Vocals that are the stars.
Track 3. “Adrift” has a Beatles meets Pink Floyd vibe – the stop start feel with the slide guitar and those damn drums. Probably my favourite, the vocal phrasing is so damn pleasing.
…try to run from our knives
– Capitalist Pigs
I could really imagine Track 5: “Capitalist Pigs” in an alcohol soaked Irish pub in mid 70s Salford – The lyrics belted out by a load of jumper wearing revolutionaries giving it some welly…suddenly the door opens and Roger Waters dragging Bob Gandalf by the arm walks over, arms waving. “lads, lads…I have an idea”. – What I’m trying to say with this aside is it’s good but then goes somewhere with it rather than sit idle. Much like it’s political and moral message. Very much in the vein of Floyd’s, ‘The Wall’.
…the butcher is here, to carve up some chops for a meal
– Capitalist Pigs
Track 8: “Shadow Snakes” has that 70s funk rock feel given life by another great vocal performance and really, really nice drumming. The bass is like a featherweight boxer, moving around ducking when it needs to and jabbing when given the opportunity. Lay some really nice fuzzed out lead guitar and those harmonies. Sweeeeet.
If you have time I suggest giving it a listen, if you ‘think’ it’s not for you and you have time, give it another go – I’m glad I did.
Drop the shovel, stop digging your own grave
-Shadow of Snakes
This week, we’re diving into Adrift by Angry Blue Planet, a 9-track, 35-minute album from a duo from Seattle. Definitely a project that is best enjoyed in it’s entirety as there’s a thread in the themes and the sound in the album. It’s concise length makes that easy, yet it remains a standout project where every track is well constructed and given time to breathe and resonate. The production is great with no wrong notes, every track is unique with some downright brilliant in their own ways like “Call of the Void”, the guitar and drums, which form the backbone of the sound, are given ample space to shine. There’s a consistent tone throughout the album, and with very few exceptions, the artists stick to it from start to finish. The lyrics and messages are fitting the tone and trying to get an understanding of it all warrants a few well-deserved replays! (With the exception of ‘Capitalist Pigs,’ this is a straightforward gem I wasn’t expecting, but I’m so glad it exists.)
A very interesting first impression for me, and I totally recommend giving it a listen, maybe even supporting the artists by throwing some money their way!
…is there an honest truth
– Death is a Wild Animal
Adrift is an interesting album. Most of the tracks can be classified as “protest songs” but none of them feel overly preachy. Catchy melodies, great tones on all instruments, entertaining drum grooves, smooth vocals and vocal harmonies, all worked together to keep my attention up through every song. Small details in the instrumentation show a great level of care for storytelling, as do the choices of effects. The entire album has variety in it’s writing, yet feels very cohesive. Overall I feel, this work achieves what it set out to do: deliver a message in an entertaining way. Highly recommended!
With many thanks to my fellow Bluesky co-conspirators: