Deep in the AlreadyHeard archives, I once wrote about a band called Lonesome. To be precise, that was over six years ago, and while I was favourable towards their ‘To Myself, From Myself’ EP, they weren’t a band that left a lasting impression on me. However, they’d be pleased to know their debut album, ‘In the Hope This Finds You,’ won’t follow the same pathway. With just a single, 2021’s ‘Inure,’ bridging the EP and album, Lonesome confidently step into full-length territory with ambitious intent.
With a concept that incorporates symbolic characters into humane themes of reflection, desire, loss, and accusation, the Peterborough group develops a deeply emotional arc. It’s complemented by a sound design made to be consumed from start to finish, and back again. Musically, their scope draws inspiration from a cinematic brand of post-hardcore, incorporating rich flourishes of post-rock. As a whole, ‘In the Hope This Finds You’ is an immersive listen.
From the moment ‘Liar’ bursts out of the atmospheric drone, Lonesome showcases a bold sound with Jay Kerr-Gray’s leading the cathartic charge. As it melts into ‘Save Your Words,’ Scott Campbell’s rolling drum and ringing guitars elevate Jay’s impassionate words of “There’ll be times where we break and we fall”. Rapid guitars pave the way for ‘Can You Hear,’ where Kerr-Grey’s soaring voice excels in matching the expansive soundscape made from his bandmates. Although the “Woahs” during its later moments outstay their welcome, the track emphasises the cathartic unison between the quintet.
It’s a credit to Lonesome that they’ve pulled off a cohesive record that effortlessly merges into one absorbing listen. This is partly due to the post-rock-drenched transitions of ‘When I Speak to You,’ ‘You’re Nothing,’ and ‘And I Am Just Alone.’ Whether it’s harmonies drifting in and out, or mournful piano keys tucked away among droning instrumentation, they merely carry the story forward. It results in moments such as ‘You Say It’s Love’ and ‘We Are Sleepless’ being emotional gut punches. On the former, Will Cooper and Paddy Healy twinkle in the verse before launching sky-high in the chorus, providing a grandiose tone. While the band’s musical density hits on the latter, mainly due to Campbell’s penetrative drums and Chris Roberts’ thick bass. Together, they create two of the album’s most monumental moments.
As deeply rich and emotional songwriters, it’s clear Lonesome is capable of delivering a heart-wrenching ballad. It’s a role they comfortably fulfil with ‘For We Are Strangers Again’. As acoustic guitars drift in, Kerr-Gray’s aching words of broken love and separation are drenched in sorrow and relief. Despite it firmly dressing itself in a balladic skin, it’s succuently and compellingly done.
‘Just Like You Wrote To Me’ brings the album to a close in a fitting fashion. Tonally maintaining the gorgeous sound that has warmly threaded itself throughout, it correlates with Kerr-Gray’s storytelling. Introspective and resolute, the emotional pull remains intact as Campbell and Roberts provide a thick rhymic base, countering Cooper and Healy’s sprawling guitars. As the returning atmospheric drone creeps in, you’re left engulfed by the emotional weight ‘In the Hope This Finds You’ provides, yet feel compelled to experience it again.
Although they musically and lyrically share the same space as Casey, Holding Absence, and Being As An Ocean, Lonesome considerably pull off a feat very few have. That is the ability to create a record that envelops you. Their world-building has depth, both conceptually and emotionally, and introduces something new with each listen. A remarkable record that deserves to be consumed by anyone who is a fan of Lonesome‘s peers. They’re sure to discover their new favourite band.
‘In the Hope This Finds You’ by Lonesome is released on September 19th on Easy Life Records.
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