Amber Run – For a Moment, I Was Lost

Indie Rock

92%

Second albums can be a career destroying minefield at the best of times. For Amber Run it was touch-and-go if the band would survive long enough for a second album, and with their stunning debut 5AM ranking amongst the highest rated albums on Belwood Music, they had a lot to live up to. I’m delighted to report that For A Moment is an absolute triumph, maintaining the gorgeous and cohesive signature sound that won over their fanbase, but following a more mature and purposeful path. This is the sound of a band coming back from the brink and fighting back with everything they’ve got. I can think of very few bands who have ever come back with a second album of this high quality.

Every aspect of what made this band great has been fine-tuned and improved. ‘Fickle Game’ sees the band at their lyrical peak while showcasing their trademark harmonies. ‘Perfect’ takes a dark turn with it’s menacing bass, ‘Dark Bloom’ closes with a soaring, show-stopping guitar solo, the stunning ‘Stranger’ has hints of Thom Yorke in the vocals and the album concludes with a trio of beautiful ballads. The only misstep in my books is the glitchy experimentation of ‘Haze’. While there’s nothing wrong with it’s Bon Iver-esque sound it does feel a bit out of place. With For A Moment, I Was Lost Amber Run have made a firm statement that they are still a force to be reckoned with, and to my mind have secured their place as the best indie band in Britain today.