Theatre Royal - Beneath the Floor EP

Released: 14 Jul 2022
Label: _

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UK indie pop band - Theatre Royal return with a new EP. Their sound recalls the best of 80s/90s indie, making it a hugely enjoyable listen.   

It opens with '1994' which is heartfelt and anthemic guitar pop at its finest. It is instantly memorable with soaring harmonies in the chorus. The subject/lyrics are melancholic and the overall sound had hints of New Order, The Cure e.t.c.

'Ship Beneath the Floor' brought to mind Ocean Rain era Echo and the Bunnymen. It is a laid back listen, perfect for Summer evenings.

   

'You Didn't See It' is more stripped back and Folk sounding with superb vocal harmonies and heartbreaking lyrics. 'Talking to Tracey' is more uplifting with great pop hooks. 'The End' is very bleak lyrically about death and losing all hope e.t.c. - "When I lose my heartbeat, when its gone forever. I'll be hoping that its as light as a feather."

A superb EP full of memorable melodies and thought-provoking lyrics. Highly recommended Summer listening.

Theatre Royal - Portraits

Released: 9 Oct 2020
Label: _
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Theatre Royal are an indie pop band from Rochester, UK, and have been making music for about 10 years. Although they are a fairly new discovery for me. 

The new album is a superb listen, demonstrating well-written songs full of melody and interesting lyrics. Their sound brings to mind the 80s jangle of other Medway bands (such as The Dentists) and also Australia's The Go-Betweens. 

It opens with 'A Marvelous Death' which is brilliantly anthemic and surprisingly uplifting for the subject matter. 'Kasher' is also a standout here and a lovely song, telling a story of a boy who takes in a lost bird. The harmonies are wonderful and recalls the timelessness of The Beatles e.t.c.

My favourite here is 'Together We're Alone' which is melodic, heartfelt indie pop of the highest standard. A great song which will have you playing it on repeat.

'Count Your Blessings' is a big ballad recalling Echo & The Bunnymen's Killing Moon. 'Tomorrow Now' is more memorable and anthemic indie. 'My Dear' has some wistful lyrics and is also very heartfelt which is something the band do really well. 

It ends on the epic 'Incidental Friend' which has something heartbreaking about it, singing about loss.

A superb album and highly recommended, especially if you love melodic sounding indie with elements of storytelling.