{"id":1411,"date":"2017-08-24T11:34:53","date_gmt":"2017-08-24T11:34:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alreadyheard.com\/staging\/review-walter-etc-gloom-cruise\/"},"modified":"2018-06-06T22:33:15","modified_gmt":"2018-06-06T21:33:15","slug":"review-walter-etc-gloom-cruise","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alreadyheard.com\/staging\/review-walter-etc-gloom-cruise\/","title":{"rendered":"Review:\u00a0Walter Etc. &#8211;\u00a0Gloom Cruise"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure class=\"tmblr-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/78.media.tumblr.com\/d90f6ce73ae6d94f4d5531651edd8ce4\/tumblr_ouzkcfv0wW1r8no6so1_r3_1280.jpg\" width=\"250em\" alt=\"\" title=\"\"><\/figure>\n<p>There are two distinct sides to <b>Walter Etc.<\/b>\u2019s <i>\u2018Gloom Cruise\u2019<\/i>, and these are very much reflected in the title and artwork. While the pastel shades and gorgeous illustration point to breezy pop, the title masks something far deeper.<\/p>\n<p>And so it proves. <b>Walter Etc.<\/b> (previously known as <b>Walter Mitty and His Makeshift Orchestra<\/b>) play gorgeous indie-pop, whimsical and engaging and so gentle it could get blown away on a light breeze. Hooks are strong throughout, with Dustin Hayes\u2019 relaxed tones adding to the on-the-beach vibe. On songs like <i>\u2018Petunia. You\u2019re Home\u2019<\/i> the pop sensibilities shine wonderfully, and it really feels like <i>&#8216;Gloom Cruise\u2019<\/i> is the perfect summer album.<\/p>\n<p>Yet, lyrically, there\u2019s much more going on than on a \u2018throwaway\u2019 pop album. As well as being adept at penning a glorious tune, there\u2019s also a melancholy heart to the lyrics that is both poignant and crushingly heartbreaking.<\/p>\n<p><!-- more --><\/p>\n<p>Written as a concept album in response to his mental health battles, there are moments of introspection that are beautifully realised, such as on the swooning <i>\u2018Winter Shy\u2019<\/i>, where Hayes ruminates about a song, saying that he can: <i>\u201chear it in my head but I can\u2019t play it; comes out as someone else\u2019s song.\u201d<\/i> Somewhat ironically, such insight comes wrapped inside one of the most strikingly beautiful songs you\u2019ll hear all year.<\/p>\n<p>Like most great concept albums, it reaches a satisfying conclusion too. <i>\u2018Baby Blue Hammock\u2019<\/i> \u2013 one of the albums more upbeat moments \u2013 sees <b>Hayes<\/b> achieve some resolution and realisation: <i>\u201cIf it all just falls apart; if it all fits into place; if it all just turns to shit commence my psychological defence\u201d<\/i> he asserts; never has a hard won truth sounded so triumphant.<\/p>\n<p>One of the biggest misnomers is that there\u2019s no cultural cache in pop music \u2013 that by its nature it should be disposable. Bands like Defiance Ohio or Saturday Looks Good To Me \u2013 or <b>Walter Etc.<\/b> \u2013 prove that\u2019s not the case. Few albums this year will have such depth or spirit, and when an album can move your feet but shake your soul, you know you\u2019ve found something special.<\/p>\n<p>5\/5<\/p>\n<p><i>&#8216;Gloom Cruise\u2019<\/i> by <b>Walter Etc.<\/b> is released on 25th August on <b>Lauren Records<\/b>, <b>Lame-O Records<\/b> and <b>Making New Enemies<\/b>.<\/p>\n<p><b>Walter Etc.<\/b> links: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/Walter-Etc-186964628325672\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Facebook<\/a>|<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/walter_etc\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Twitter<\/a>|<a href=\"https:\/\/walteretc.bandcamp.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Bandcamp<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Words by Rob Mair (<a href=\"http:\/\/twitter.com\/BobNightMair\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">@BobNightMair<\/a>)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>There are two distinct sides to Walter Etc.\u2019s \u2018Gloom Cruise\u2019, and these are very much reflected in the title and artwork. While the pastel shades and gorgeous illustration point to breezy pop, the title masks something far deeper. And so it proves. Walter Etc. (previously known as Walter Mitty and His Makeshift Orchestra) play gorgeous [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":16581,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[167,169,168,170,15022,166],"class_list":["post-1411","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-album-reviews","tag-gloom-cruise","tag-lame-o-records","tag-lauren-records","tag-making-new-enemies","tag-rob-mair","tag-walter-etc"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.7 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Review:\u00a0Walter Etc. -\u00a0Gloom Cruise - Already Heard Staging<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"There are two distinct sides to Walter Etc.\u2019s \u2018Gloom Cruise\u2019, and these are very much reflected in the title and artwork. 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