A couple of years ago, I wrote a fairly lengthy article that suggested that rather than rush to review new singles and albums, the industry should be geared toward a model of retrospective reviewing. This would reduce the hyping of bands for the sake of having a band to hype that week, and rather than make snap decisions as to an album's quality, with time to embed and ponder, real quality would receive due recognition rather than being buried under the tidal wave of zeitgeist-capturing crap 'classics' that don't stand the test of time.
So when I read that Walls are 'set to once again capture the shimmering layers of guitar and synths, ecstatic melodies and emotive vocals that made their debut an instant classic' I'm wary.
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Turns out I have good reason to be, too. Washes of synth and distant rinses of skeletal guitar, not to mention the occasional stammering toot of pan-pipe, feather over a tubular bassline and backed-off beat that provides a subtle groove. The vibe's laid-back and soft around the edges, and it's got that kind of loafing on the beach feel to it that makes it a soundtrack to the summer, but it's just too content to waft around in the background to implant itself in the memory. Consequently, it's pleasant enough, but isn't anywhere near a classic, instant or otherwise.
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