Album Review :: Sundara Karma - Youth Is Only Ever Fun In Retrospect

Album

Sundara Karma

Youth Is Only Ever Fun In Retrospect

January 6 2017 (Bee & El/Sony RAL)

7.5/10

Words: Alison Mack

Sundara Karma have been hovering around for a good few years now and with a number of singles and 'Loveblood' EP under their belt, so this debut album feels not quite as vital as it may have done coming on the back of less output. 'Youth Is Only Ever Fun In Retrospect' therefore may become more fun in, well, retrospect.

Still, there is plenty of brooding romanticism - with anthems inspired by Manet, Oscar Wilde and Plato, for those who like such things and don't feel a touch of the pretentious creeping in - ‘Flame’, for instance, a crunchy guitar track which has actually been around for some while, is, says vocalist Oscar Pollock, inspired by Plato’s Allegory Of The Cave - and ambitious works such as the the six-minute 'Happy Family'. Both 'Loveblood' and 'She Said' have racked up over 3 million online streams between them.

The former, which first appeared on their 2014 debut EP 'EP1', turns a tropical lilt infused with sun-spliced guitars, percussive bursts and big fuck-off chorus, something the Reading Karma kids do rather well. The bliss enhanced 'Vivienne' - "a love song sure, but more to do with the escapism that love can offer than love itself" - and closer 'The Night' - another from 'EP1' - deliver competent guitar riffs, pop hooks, shimmery synths and the compelling vocals of frontman Pollock. Glossy and vibrant, YIOEFIR pulls out the youthful energy to make it a competent debut.