Shields Rescue Indie On Debut
How Can We Fix This?
Shields
Newcastle's Shields have spent a while paying their live dues – a busy 2015 comprising of tour support slots with Placebo and Everything Everything as well as a slot at Glastonbury can attest to that. 2016 finally sees the five-piece take that experience and use it to great effect on their long-awaited debut album, 'How Can We Fix This?'.
Some bands have the ability to transport you into their own little world over the course of an album, and Shields are one of those bands. Reminiscent of a more interesting Everything Everything, 'How Can We Fix This?' pulls the listener into a world of sweaty dancefloors and melancholy nights, with a captivating vocal serving as the tour-guide through the furore.
Produced by Adrian Bushby (Foo Fighters, Muse, My Bloody Valentine), this album is simply one of the debut albums of the year so far; I know it's only February, but I won't be surprised when I see it pop up in high places in the end of year lists.
The album opens all guns blazing with the intro to 'Technicolour', all tremolo-picked guitar lines and cymbals, and it doesn't let up – it simply throws out hook after hook until you're left singing these songs in your sleep.
There is the odd moment where it just all gets a bit overwhelming – the stuttering synth in 'Drones' comes to mind – but this is immediately rescued by a heavy bassline and an expansive chorus. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the stand-out track is the record's lead single 'Alive', a great slab of alt-pop featuring some deft drumming and a chorus of stirring harmonies.
Calling Shields' music simply 'Indie' does them a bit of a disservice – they pull together a huge variety of sounds and influences with a Minus The Bear-esque sophistication to reach the finished article. It's like math-rock with the kitchen sink thrown in – a satisfyingly dense sound that reveals something new on each and every listen. If you were worried that great UK indie-pop was getting stale, get this in your ears and worry no more – Shields are here.
9/10
