There’s been a minor flurry of new UK bands attempting to bridge the gap between radio-friendly pop and rock. Right now, the band to compare them with is Canada’s Arcade Fire that set the standard with debut album FUNERAL. I’m pleased to report that bands like Morning Runner and this one have added their own distinctive flavour to a genre actually started by another UK band, Spiritualised back in the last decade.

The Fallout Trust is a heavily populated band of six guys and gals with all the instrumental and vocal bases covered. Opening track When We Are Gone sets the scene nicely with a song that races along, piloted by a powerful drum rhythm and kept on the rails by a strong melody. It’s an epic-sounding song, and a good opening gambit. Them Or It follows, and couldn’t be more different. Twinkling piano notes and brass introduce a breathy vocal from Joe Winter, followed soon by a raucous chorus of multi-layered voices and instrumental rush. It’s a distinctive song with another decent melody - not bad. Next track, Before The Light Goes, is better and repeats the band’s trademark change of pace; going from slow and building to clamorous, rockier crescendos. It’s a formula that works well alongside the band’s sensitivity to melody. But it’s the darker, and glacially paced vibe of songs like TVM that really attract my rapt attention. This particular song crawls along for some distance with a simple, stripped down instrumental backing and highly emotional vocal. The crescendo eventually arrives but it’s muted and well-judged with a deep bass vibe, accompanied by a soulful multi-layered vocal. It’s my highlight of the album.

Punk raises its jagged face in Washout with guitars leading the charge. There’s also a jazzy dance vibe to the song, and a vocal that changes pitch several times. It’s another fave track. This album doesn’t lack for diversity of pace and mood, as later song No Beacon exemplifies. It’s a gently rolling, emo ballad complete with backing vocals that remind me of the Beachboys. Nice. Concluding track Take Comfort From Me is a mournful tune with violin adding an intense atmosphere to the song’s opening segment. Winter provides an impressive and expressive vocal before the piano and super-sensitive backing vocal returns to play out another album highlight.

Having just reviewed the wonderful debut from Morning Runner, I find this album to be a little less convincing. That said, there are no dud tracks here, while the album reveals this band’s strong future potential. It also offers a diverse menu, and truckloads of door-opening melody. I suspect that the album’s a grower that needs several more listens, so for now it’s an album to look out for when released early in February.

3.5/5