Source: Album Artwork
South Wales alt-rockers Casey pride themselves on music not influenced by image or their roots, instead describing their sound as something that is, “self-expression created with no underlying motive, only the wish to experience and relate.”
They’re inspired by the likes of Lydia and Touche Amore, something you can consistently pick up on when it comes to their debut album, Love Is Not Enough. The record was released on September 23 and is thanks to the band’s recent signing to Hassle Records.
The lead single ‘Ceremony‘ made its debut on Daniel P Carter‘s BBC Radio 1 Rock Show, proving that the quintet is already more than capable of making waves; demanding the attention of anyone willing to give them the chance. It’s clear why this song, in particular, made the cut— it’s the most commercially viable with drifting, softened vocals building up the chorus.
Each and every track on this album has a short, snappy title made up of either one or two words. It’s an aesthetically pleasing move, yes, but it will also no doubt intrigue listeners. You can’t figure out much in the way of vibe or theme on just a single word, making each song as surprising as it is impressive. Prime examples would be ‘Darling‘, a morose, heart-wrenching gem that focuses on simple melodies and relatable lyrics, and final track ‘Doubt‘, which takes a huge leap in the other direction to offer biting choruses and thrashing guitars.
No young band is capable of being perfect and so inevitably, Love Is Not Enough does have its faults. Luckily, they are few and far between, and for the most part, it is a stellar album that solidifies Casey as a band that means business.
The South Wales music scene was once one of the brightest, producing kingpins like The Blackout and Kids In Glass Houses. It’s inevitably died down a bit now, but bands like Casey are certainly confirming that the scene’s future is looking promising.
