The band’s ninth album is a strong entry.
Later in the year Embrace go out on tour to celebrate not only Avalanche, but thirty years since they made their debut recordings. You don’t survive that long in the music business without some serious talent, but also some guts, honesty and stubbornness. Embrace are a tight unit. The McNamara Brothers have always made for a strong core but the rest of the band are still the same personnel, bassist Steve Firth, keyboardist Mickey Dale, and drummer Mike Heaton. Embrace have always been synonymous with big emotional tracks, soaring choruses and Yorkshire grit. Their debut album The Good Will Out was a critically acclaimed runaway success. One of the biggest debuts of the decade, though for every fan of Embrace you could often find somebody who thought them a touch too dour to follow. There have been numerous big singles over the years, ‘All You Good Good People,’ ‘Ashes’ and ‘Gravity.’ That last one was penned by Coldplay’s Chris Martin but given to Embrace, the bands are good friends of each other, after Martin decided it would work better for them. They even performed the 2006 England World Cup Song, ‘World At Your Feet.’
Avalanche is what you would expect an Embrace album to be whilst also being very much against type. The band enter a new era here, becoming more self-reflective with age and a desire to make every moment count. Danny McNamara is 55 this year but also has a four-year-old daughter. It is a combination that revels in living in the now and understanding how things change. This album touches on realising that things will never be perfect, that small moments of joy can be powerful things. They open up more of themselves here, like on ‘Pure O’ where Danny looks back on a period of mental turmoil with the modern knowledge that it was probably this OCD variant that was barely known back when he experienced it. The song writing duties are spread wide, Richard McNamara delivers some of his best work and Mickey Dale also chips in well.
Opening track ‘Stop’ is classic Embrace, a driving indie vehicle which takes the emotions up in the powerful chorus. ‘Road To Nowhere’ is not a cover version but an even better single with those challenging life moments in full focus:
“You say you’re scared to leave me, but it hurts too much to stay
And something in your words gives you away
When I say this song’s about you and you tell me it’s a phase
And we will never change
And know I’m never gonna leave you and you’ll never be alone
‘Cause we’re on a road to nowhere, but at least we’re going home
And I don’t know which direction, but I know that I belong
On a road that’s going nowhere, if you say you’ll come along”
‘Get Out Of My Own Way’ slows it right down in classic Embrace style before building up and adding deeper layers, including a choir and string section. ‘Deny’ follows a similar path.
Danny McNamara thinks the new album is some of their best work ever and believes ‘Coming Home’ is right up there with any of their best songs. It is certainly stirring stuff; Richard takes over the lead vocals in the final stretch from his brother in some style. The aforementioned four-year-old is the focus of ‘Emily.’ Danny wonders what direction her life might take, offering advice on a range of situations, expressing he will always be there if she needs him.
‘Up In Your Feelings’ and ‘Pure O’ pick up the pace again. ‘Up In Your Feelings’ shows the strength of this album as at least four other tracks could have been released as a single in its place. The keyboard does more of the heavy lifting before the drums and bass let rip on ‘Pure O.’ There is a dissonance in the music that reflects the mental turmoil Danny experienced for the best part of several years around the age of twenty. It might be the best track on the album.
Their guitar work is easy to underrate, If ‘Funny’ had been put out by Oasis it would have sat nicely on Definitely Maybe. Having decided they haven’t messed with our emotions enough they save another epic for the end in ‘The Power.’
Embrace fans are absolutely going to love this album, it is a fantastic collection of tracks that fully reflect their range, quality and ability. If you are new to the band this is a great place to jump on board. Enjoy this and then sample the highlights of the very fine back catalogue. It will hit you right in the feels, but it will offer comfort and support once you are there. Avalanche is an apt title, the little emotions roll until they turn into huge ones across the tracks of this album.
Essential Tracks: ‘Stop,’ Road To Nowhere,’ ‘Get Out Of My Own Way,’ ‘Coming Home’ and ‘Pure O.’
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