Cola – ‘The Gloss’ album review: a cinematic collection of art rock
THE SKINNY: Being in a widely influential band can make it challenging for members to break the mould in future projects, with them considered inextricable from a particular sound and aesthetic. Yet in Cola, former Ought members Tim Darcy and Ben Stidworthy continue to assert their aptitude and push their take on the post-punk formula forward, with drummer Evan Cartwright bolstering the charge. This week, the trio released their second album, The Gloss, which sees them move further away from the image of the defunct ‘Men for Miles’ outfit.
I’m loath to compare Cola with Ought, as so many will undoubtedly do so, but it is necessary to mention that on the trio’s new album, they have continued to move in a more art-rock-leaning direction and evolve. While the outward post-punk that made Darcy and Stidworthy will always naturally comprise their work, they blend it with other textures and sensations to create a compelling listening experience equally as original as the duo’s former group.
Building on the foundations that their 2022 debut Deep in View laid, The Gloss is a deeply autumnal collection of ten vignettes, despite arriving on the verge of summer. Darcy’s unique delivery remains and is bolstered by a dynamic, shifting musical backdrop, with Stidworthy once again asserting why he is an underrated purveyor of cogent basslines. Furthermore, Cartwright provides a host of jazzy, expressionist rhythms to support him and keep the engine pulsing through the series of environments it traverses. With keys and other consistencies also contributing to the cinematic feel, the menagerie of melodic surprises, off-kilter cacophonies, and intriguing lyrical tales create an album that begs to be revisited.
A brilliantly considered and concise opus, Cola continue to tread their own path despite the electronic zeitgeist and produce art of real value. Furthermore, as the band are so early into their story, you get the sense that The Gloss is really only the beginning of their sonic exploration.
For fans of: Ought, trousers up to the navel, and worn monkey boots.
A concluding comment from your local poseur: “I’ve never heard of Ought before. Are they good? I sure do like Cola.”
The Gloss track-by-track:
Release Date: June 14th | Producer: Valentine Ignat | Label: Fire Talk
‘Tracing Hallmarks’: An instantly hooky number with a direct vocal melody, bassline, choppy guitars, and constantly shifting spirit, the opener expertly teases coming off the rails and has you locked in until the end. [4/5]
‘Pulling Quotes’: Opening with the seizing “That’s how it starts”, Darcy once again provides another mesmerising vocal and lyrical performance, with Stidworthy and Cartwright ballasting him. A number that toys with being truly expansive, it breaks into utter bliss towards the end. [4/5]
‘Pallor Tricks’: One of the darker moments on The Gloss, the discordant relationship between the bass and guitar creates fascination from commencement. A real juxtaposition of a composition that weaves in and out of pure harmony and friction, it’s a distillation of everything Cola does best. [4/5]
‘Albatross’: The bass tone, mechanical drums, and Darcy’s animated delivery constitute a perfect marriage, with his vocals also clearly outlining his widespread impact on a wave of British pretenders. Certainly one of the most engaging constructions on the album, part of its allure is that there’s no telling where it will take you. [4/5]
‘Down to Size’: Another catchier juncture, this rolling post-punk/art-rock hybrid has the head bobbing the whole way through, with a touch of The Strokes buried deep within it, from the spiky guitar to the vintage four-string tone. [4/5]
‘Keys Down If You Stay’: A heady number with an almost country beat, the experiments with rhythm and off-beats instantly stand out, as does the broadly melancholic sentiment. The bridge in the final third is also a welcome treat, again demonstrating how the trio have an assorted bag of tricks despite their relatively diminutive manpower. [4/5]
‘Reprise’: An atmospheric effort that also somehow manages to be laid-back, it provides another example of what makes Cola so persuasive amid an astute blend of sliding guitar, clanky bass and ambient finale that I wish was just a touch longer. Alas, minimalism is what they do. [4/5]
‘Nice Try’: A contender for the finest track on The Gloss, the images of golden leaves and palliative October rain are particularly clear here as the wistful layers of guitars wash over the listener, and the rhythm section provides a warm backdrop to lose yourself in. [4.5/5]
‘Bell Wheel’: For the penultimate offering, the gloves are off, and the energy and grit are ramped up. It wholly envelops you as it hops between sections, with the part where the keyboard bends link up with the chiming cymbals a particularly effective inclusion. [4.5/5]
‘Bitter Melon’: An artful, jazz-imbued way to bring the curtain down on the album, in the expected form, you are all ears from the moment the band tentatively push through the speakers. Incredibly meditative in every aspect, this is the rare type of song you could listen to repeatedly in one sitting and only grow to enjoy it more. Again, the ending is exceptional. [4.5/5]
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