Words by Anselm Anderson
London-based Indie rock act Plastic Barricades is set to release their third studio effort We Stayed Indoors, today (Thursday, November 30th) via Plastic Tribe Records. The album provides a fascinating insight into the effects of the Covid-19 lockdown from a few years ago. "We Stayed Indoors" takes a complex and quirky approach to loneliness, hope, courage, living in the moment, regrets, hopes and perception. It was a telling time for many of us and this ten-track LP perfectly captures the moments in 45 minutes. The album title is inspired by the 2001 track "We Laugh Indoors" by the band's idols Death Cab For Cutie.
I reviewed a couple of singles earlier this year ( "Counting Fireworks", and "Lucid in the Fall") and was instantly taken by the blend of melodic vocals, imaginative lyrics and the overwhelming acoustics and electronics on display. So, I was excited to receive this via my Inbox. The band's brand of indie and folk is the perfect formula for a sensitive subject like this one. Plastic Barricades is London-based singer/songwriter Dan Kert and his revolving door of contributors. The follow-up to 2017's Mechanics of Life and 2020's Self-Theories was recorded with Sheffield-based drummer Chris Barber and German singer Aellie Coto. The album features guest performances by singer/songwriters John Sibley and Luke Joyce. The recording duties belong to Tom Hill and Andy "Hippie" Baldwin who spread their magic at Bookhouse Studio and Metropolis Studio.
That is the background of the band and album, so now it is time to review. Firstly, the album begins with the aforementioned "Counting Fireworks", a perfect song to begin any artist release. The enchanting vocals blend with perfectly strummed acoustics to encapture the isolation felt during the lockdown. It is certainly a song to lift anybody's mood. Next up is "For The Brave" with a background chorus by Eli Pasok and Christina Petushenko which provides ambience to Kert's soft and endearing vocals. The keyboard and acoustic guitar add a sense of togetherness to the track. I admit this is an album full of melodies and easy-listening songs designed to perk up anybody feeling the blues. It isn't a participant of the headbanger's ball, but sometimes these types of albums are needed.
The overall tone of "We Stayed Indoors" is gentle and serene with the addition of the contributing guests and evocative music underlying this. "Second-Hand Dreams" is another example of this with poetic lyrics about watching the world go by is a perfect anthem for those bored indoors. The dark electronics of "We're Not So Different" and "High Wire Balancing Act" provide some comfort, while "Lucid In the Fall" and "Tallest Trees" showcase Kert's introspective lyrics and warm vocals, intertwined with some stout fingerpicking acoustic guitar and stirring electronics.
Finally, the melancholic folk song "Dust of Former Lives" is a good sing-along track to complete the album.
Overall, Plastic Barricades has written an anthem for a dark period in our lives with charm, warmth and humility. "We Stayed Indoors" is a perfect record for someone who wants to escape life's woes with a relaxing record.
Rating: 7.5/10
"We Stayed Indoors" is available via all major streaming platforms on November 30th
If you enjoyed this review, please click on the links below to read more about Plastic Barricades
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