Monday’s Monsoon – Sink/Swim/Fly
Monday’s Monsoon is back with its latest release “Sink/Swim/Fly”, after two singles and two EP’s. The collection of eleven tracks presents a masterful balance of intimate storytelling and expansive soundscapes that refuses to be boxed into a single genre. At a time when much of indie rock feels either too calculated or too self-indulgent, Monday’s Monsoon have crafted a work that feels genuinely heartfelt while remaining sonically adventurous. The album exists in that rare sweet spot where technical skill meets emotional truth, creating a listening experience that rewards both casual listeners and those who choose to dive deeper.
The album opens with the mesmerising “You and You and I,” a track that immediately showcases the band’s gift for layering intricate guitar work with vocals that feel both vulnerable and assured. There’s an immediate sense that Monday’s Monsoon are inviting listeners into a carefully crafted emotional journey, one that acknowledges both isolation and connection, aptly reflected in the album’s paradoxical title. “The Wait” follows with a slow-burning intensity, building from sparse instrumentation to a crescendo that echoes the patient anticipation its title suggests. Here, the band’s Radiohead influences shine through in the atmospheric production and unexpected chord progressions, yet the song retains a warmth and accessibility that feels distinctly their own. And all the while, the snare holds the song together as a common thread.
By the time “Tap Out” arrives, the album’s sonic palette has expanded considerably. Percussive elements take centre stage, creating a rhythmic foundation for meditations on resilience and surrender. The track exemplifies Monday’s Monsoon’s ability to craft songs that feel both deeply personal and universally relatable. Produced very well! Mid-album highlight “Hi Again Mate” offers a disarming moment of familiarity—a conversation between old friends set to music that shifts between folk-tinged verses and soaring choruses. It’s here that the band’s Elbow influences are most apparent, particularly in the conversational lyricism and orchestral flourishes.
“White Peach” and “Fear of Falling” form the album’s contemplative core, exploring themes of fragility and courage, respectively. The former employs delicate acoustic arrangements that gradually bloom into something more robust, while the latter embraces a more urgent, driving sound that propels the narrative forward. Perhaps the album’s most ambitious moment arrives with “Papering over Cracks,” a sprawling exploration of emotional facades that showcases the band’s willingness to let compositions breathe and evolve naturally. The track’s gradual build and cathartic release demonstrate a band comfortable with both restraint and abandon.
“Back O’skiddaw” provides one of the album’s most striking moments, incorporating folk elements that evoke the English countryside the title references, while “Scapegoat” delivers the album’s most politically charged lyrics, wrapped in deceptively beautiful melodies. As the album approaches its conclusion, “Showstealer” lives up to its name with a dynamic performance that highlights the band’s technical prowess without sacrificing emotional resonance. The closer, “Feel the Tide,” serves as a perfect summation of the album’s themes—a meditation on surrender and renewal that leaves listeners with a sense of resolution while inviting repeat listens.
Throughout “Sink/Swim/Fly,” Monday’s Monsoon demonstrate remarkable cohesion and vision. The production strikes an ideal balance—polished enough to highlight the band’s musicianship while retaining enough organic elements to capture the electricity of their live performances. What ultimately sets this album apart is its emotional authenticity. “Sink/Swim/Fly” establishes Monday’s Monsoon not just as promising talents, but as a fully realised band with something significant to say and the musical vocabulary to say it beautifully. It’s an album that deserves to propel them from London’s club circuit to much larger stages. (8/10) (Monday’s Monsoon)
