The New Faith – Me On You

Indie Rock | Baroque Pop

71%

Going against the norm can be a risky move, but when many other indie bands seem stuck in a rut, there is also a lot of potential reward awaiting you at the end. Brighton band The New Faith are doing their own thing, and are doing it well! With Will Charlton’s deep crooning vocals, soaring orchestral soundscapes, and uplifting choral sections, their debut offers a level of maturity and grandeur that you’d be hard pressed to find in the current scene. ‘Too Sad to be Young’ is reminiscent of Belwood favourites MONEY, ‘Look the Other Way’ close with some superb sax work, and ‘Aerials’ closes the album with their most triumphant and dramatic work yet. Often I, and other music writers, talk about potential, about what a band could be. This is a band taking the initiative, pursuing their ambitions, and trying to be the best that they can be.

It is possible however to have too much of a good thing, and that’s exactly the issue with Me On You. I’m a vocal advocate of quality over quantity, and while there is plenty of quality here I’d much prefer it to be condensed down into a more concise package. The three little interludes of ‘Thirst for the Living Water’ for instance don’t really add much to the album. Also, while this debut compensates for its lack of diversity with its scope and splendour, I can see it becoming an issue on future releases and I would like to see them trying their hands at new sounds. This is really just nit-picking at this point however; The New Faith have a lot to be proud of with their expansive debut, and have proven themselves to be one of the most ambitious new bands on the scene.