Combining the complex rhythms of math rock, the intricate melodies of smooth jazz and the energy of pop and indie bands like The Police and Everything Everything, Real Terms create effortlessly impressive yet listenable tracks perfect for a quiet Sunday afternoon in a coffee shop. Debut album Vantage would act as an ideal introduction to the world of math rock for those wanting to explore it and is a welcome break from the genre’s more ostentatious tendencies for seasoned veterans.
Starting strong with opening track ‘Improve’, Real Terms waste no time in introducing themselves. Plunging the listener into a sea of atmosphere with layers of effect drenched guitars, subtle, jazz inspired drums and ambient keys. Lead singer John Crawford’s vocals shine right off the bat, sweetly floating through the song, occasionally being pushed into an effortless, lilting falsetto. One of the biggest strengths of Vantage is the succinct nature of the tracks, with a good few songs being less than three minutes and the longest barely pushing four, in a genre all too happy with flashy solos taking up time it’s refreshing to see a band understanding brevity.
An absolute highlight of the album is single ‘Veil is Thinner’, an upbeat, danceable track that elegantly brings the band’s influences together. Crawford’s vocals are really channelling Jonathan Higgs of Everything Everything on this track, showing off a truly impressive range with labyrinthine, abstract lyrics. The drums on this track are also a standout, floating between Phil Collins style dramatic fills and understated, jazz inspired beats. Against a backdrop of hazy synths and math rock inspired guitars ‘Veil is Thinner’ does the impossible of making a wild, experimental track that feels effortlessly poppy and joyfully simple.
“"In a genre all too happy with flashy solos taking up time it’s refreshing to see a band understanding brevity"”
Embracing their math rock influences Real Terms get to explore a more experimental side of their identity on track ‘Absentee’. The guitar and bass begin by snaking together through a compound time signature before breaking down into a cacophony of distorted atmosphere in the chorus. The inspirations from math rock icons American Football and TTNG become clear when the clean, picked guitar and sliding bass start harmonising with a wavering, sporadic saxophone before building up to a dramatic crescendo. It’s a pleasure to hear Real Terms let loose and get into a groove with an extended jam, Absentee stands out as one of the longest tracks on the album and really breaks up the shorter, more pop oriented songs.
In relation, lead single ‘Frantically Wrong’ is a delightful mix of modern and retro ideas. The danceable, intricate chorus is a perfect representation of Real Terms’ ethos, mashing together the spirit of ‘80s soft rock and the elaborate, experimental feel of modern math rock. The bridge features two voices trading off staccato notes and elegantly breaks up the more accessible elements of the track with a splash of prog weirdness. The drum work on this track deserves considerable praise, effortlessly blending booming retro rock beats with sophisticated, jazzy fills.
On the track ‘Half Alive’ Real Terms fully establish themselves as a force to be reckoned with in the experimental pop genre, seamlessly merging an earworm chorus and appropriately left-field guitar work. Stumbling between tasteful riffs and noisy, harmonically dissonant breakdowns, guitarist Christopher Lynn takes what could otherwise have been a serviceable indie rock track and elevates it to something fascinating. The catchy, upbeat chorus carries the track, staying with the listener long after the album ends, in fact if there was one criticism of ‘Half Alive’ it would be that this chorus stands out so much in terms of energy, tonally the verses are much more subdued and contemplative which creates a bit of a jarring shift between them. Some backing vocals in the verses would really help liven them up, especially as the song reaches its peak in the last half.
“"It’s a pleasure to hear Real Terms let loose and get into a groove with an extended jam"”
Penultimate track ‘Impose’ is by far the shortest on the album but still finds time to explore some interesting ideas for Real Terms. Supplementing the mathy, experimental pop sound the band have explored throughout the rest of the album with a wall of ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ style processed backing vocals, ramping up the tension with layers of atmosphere building gently to the album’s grand finale.
Final track ‘Cacophony’ takes everything Real Terms have learned over the other ten songs on Vantage and puts them elegantly into place as a welcome last hurrah. On this closer Real Terms pull together all their influences, with vocals wavering between delicate falsetto and a powerful, grandiose tenor, complex, tapped guitar parts and varied, tasteful rhythms. Living up to the song’s name ‘Cacophony’ is a swirling, disorienting mix of genres, escalating to one final crescendo before disappearing completely, leaving the album on a cliffhanger and the listener eager for more.
On Vantage Real Terms have managed to create a unique and special sound that’s sure to be a treat for lovers of experimental music and more mainstream pop and rock fans alike. With effortlessly intricate instrumentals and catchy pop songwriting Real Terms have made their mission statement clear and delivered an admirable first album.