Ez Luscombe
It’s been another exciting year for SUDS. In between an appearance at the Amateur Power all-dayer, a tour alongside modern Florida emo figureheads Dikembe, and extensive UK and European support slots with Macseal back in June, SUDS have mastered the art of crafting an album that’s delicately emotional and mature whilst still packing one hell of a punch.
Produced by Ian Sadler (Ohhms, Roam, Anavae) who also crafted their first record The Great Overgrowth, Sadler masterfully puts a warm sheen on Tell Me About Your Day Again, something tha makes the entire album feel like a hot mug of tea under your warmest blanket in the dead of winter; very seasonally accurate. Combining stripped-back and deeply raw folk-influenced songwriting that tackles heartbreak and grief, Tell Me About Your Day Again starts with their trademark of effective, fuzzy guitar riffs which contrast the delicate vocals and vivid lyricism of Mae Carter perfectly.
This abstractly contemplative lyricism never fails to leave an emotional impact on every single track on this release, and every band member brings something utterly unique to the soundscape of this album. From the subtle resilience in Jack Ames’s drumming, to bassist Harry Mitchell’s backing vocals that add further depth on tracks such as ‘Holding on and giving up’ and ‘Quietly feeling’ and Dan Godfrey’s effortless fusion between power chords on bouncier track ‘Made you grow’ and twinkly riffs akin to bands such as American Football on horn-laden single ‘Hook me out’, SUDS know how to tug at your heartstrings through sheer and unfiltered musicianship.
Despite the often abstract lyricism prevalent on this latest effort, the band describe this album as being an outlet to processing change and the shared catharsis between four friends in their twenties trying to navigate the world as a touring band, and this shows musically. Most of the album may be intentionally more downtempo than their last effort, but the more classic pop influenced sound is still at the heart of SUDS, especially on the explosive ‘Until I’m fine’ which is scattered with completing vocal harmonies aplenty and memorable riffs that will stick in your head, truly a powerful listen all-round.
Tell Me About Your Day Again is fifty percent inspired by the evocative lyricism of the Greenwich Village folk scene, fifty percent inspired by the exciting and diverse DIY emo scene that this country boasts, but 100% original. If you haven’t already listened to SUDS then their sophomore release is a great place to start and with upcoming headline shows with Exeter shoegazers Soot Sprite supporting and a Christmas show alongside Jetski and Pale Sailor at Sheffield’s Yellow Arch; you may just find your new favourite band, as well as East Anglia’s best kept secret.