These are your Friends - Adem Single Review

Image:link

Single Review

Fridge mainstay, Adem Ilhan starts off in calm and searching mode via 'Warning Call', for his second full length, solo offering. The London-based artist keeps his feet firmly on the ground with the album being built around his earthy indie/folk styling, representing quite a departure from the post rocking empiricism of his other outfit. The lullaby instrumental base of 'Sea Of Tranquillity' is quite simply, Adem at his most contemplative allowing his poetic lyrics to fall passionately from his lips. He still finds time to experiment in 'You and Moon' that is resplendent for its rising nature, coming through in the soulful lead and slightly gospel oozing backing choir, gently rising off a hollow and tingling percussive platform.

The haunting emotion concealed in debut album 'Homesongs', is let out again, but it is a lot subtler this time around. Adem gives his voice more licence to roam and it gets quite masterfully uplifting at times, 'These Lights Are Meaningful' and to a lesser extent 'Spirals'. Intergalactic imagery is there for you to wonder upon throughout the album. The pedestrian pinging and wistful foray into the final moments of creation in 'Human Beings Gather Round', displays Ilhan's appreciation of mystery and provides a light at the end of a mystifying musical journey.

David Adair