Returning with their first album in eight years, Balance and Composure‘s comeback sees them somewhat pick up where they left off. Although 2016’s ‘Light We Made’ leaned into experimentation, their fourth album ‘with you in spirit’ is more aligned with 2011’s ‘Separation’ and 2013’s The Things We Think We’re Missing’. Yet this isn’t a band relying on former glories as ‘…Spirit’ captures B&C at questionably their most lyrically compelling, if not blunt.
Frontman and central lyricist Jon Simmons creates a narrative full of self-reflection. It’s complemented by a set of songs that are drenched in absence and emotion. It’s a mood that ‘restless’ provides straight away as Simmons ruminates; “Nobody knows where I’ve been. Nobody’s seen me since then. Nobody is needing a friend.”
As the album settles into itself, tracks such as ‘ain’t it sweet’ and ‘any means’ pour out with brooding bass lines and ringing guitars as Simmons’ luscious (and thoughtful) melodies wrap themselves around driving and distant emo-rock. The latter is executed with a sense of comforting familiarity, leaning into atmospheric depth that others don’t quite pull off as well.
Partly thanks to Will Yip’s layered production, B&C are able to create captivating atmospheres. Whether that’s on the evocative ‘cross to bear’, ‘lead foot’s emotional rawness, or the pensiveness pairing of ‘sorrow machine‘ and ‘a little to myself’. Their execution is concise while simultaneously evolving their sound palette. For example, ‘cross to bear’ broods along with Matt Warner’s bass lines as Erik Petersen and Andy Slaymaker’s guitars melt on top.
‘closer to god’ serves as a late highlight for a variety of reasons. For starters, it pinpoints Simmons’ contemplative narrative wrestling his faith in a finely poetic manner. “I’ll never know how it feels. You’ve got a reason for everything” he sings amongst an alluring and impactful chord progression. While his insecurities are driven home on the title track.
Despite their absence, there continues to be a magnetic quality to Balance and Composure‘s sound. Even though it more often than not wallows in a morose tone, it elevates the raw emotional tug that Simmons and company can implement. ‘with you in spirit’ proves to be a lyrically stirring and musically rich and layered return.
‘with you in spirit’ by Balance and Composure is out now on Memory Music.
