Steel Threads
Album: For Those Who Are Left
Label: Tea For One
Tracks: 11
Website: http://www.steelthreadsmusic.co.uk

“For Those Who Are Left” is not as instant as its predecessor, “Timing Is Everything”, but that’s for a couple of good reasons. First the band have had a change in personnel, with Laura Wilcockson having taken over on fiddle and bringing a change to the dynamic of the vocal, secondly, there has been a bit of step change in the songwriting with a more considered narrative and slightly less free and easy on the melody.

That means, particularly if you have the debut album, that it doesn’t on the surface have that up and at ‘em feel, instead there is an arguably more mature sound, one that is more suited to the darker, more emotive lyric, something that remains consistent regardless of it being the more rock orientated tracks or that drift to a more Americana/folkish sound.

One track, “Beautiful Friend” really does that bring home. The song is a requiem for a friend of band leader Neil Wardleworth and it some ways it helps reflect the tone of the wider album, torn as it is between wanting to celebrate the life of a mate and reflecting the pain and sorrow of the passing. It is quite a hard song to listen to and there is a temptation to flick to something lighter, resist you’ll find it well worth the effort.

Similarly, take that approach with the album, forget about instant gratification, give the songs a chance to grow on you, like we did in the old days. “For Those Who Are Left” is not a sprint, it’s more a reflective stroll, one that should allow you to take in the detail that you may have missed and ultimately that’s the strength of this album, let it come to you, don’t rush at it and you’ll find a grand collection of songs.

Neil King