Palace
Lost In The Night
October 20 2014 (Beatnik Creative)
8.5/10
Words: Linn Branson
After having witnessed Palace live, not only do they sound as good as they do on record, but they must surely be at the forefront of bands to make it big in 2015. This debut five-track self-produced EP gives a demonstrable taste of why they have already become a name on tastemakers' lips.
The songs themselves, while not in the bold anthemic rock mould, do exude a subtle honey-like sweetness, that slowly and gently permeates the senses. Lead single 'Veins' released during the summer heralded the first clues as to what they may further have in store: smooth and mellow guitar strains, an arresting vocal presence, imaginative percussion; a band ably fusing their blues-stroke-soul heart with pop rock awareness and a timeless ambience.
The title track meanders along a bayou of lazy guitar and layered harmonies, whilst the slower paced, changing rhythms of 'Ocean Deep' works towards a dual guitar end that this and 'I Want What You Got' have already come to be the staple Palace focal points; the latter picking up in intensity as it proceeds with a graceful naturalness. But while it may be the song that Palace themselves count as the one that defines their sound - dreamy guitars swooning around complex structures - it is 'Bitter' that for many fans has been their most accomplished song so far. Stirring, sensual vocals enough to send tingles down the spine with the inflection put on the title word, an intriguing, well-crafted blues-tinged arrangement filled with echoing guitars, it is one that is going to become synonymous with the Palace name.
On the balance of this first collective work, being lost in the night with Palace would be absolutely no hardship at all.
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