Hope and Social – ‘April’ Review

There is much excitement surrounding the release of the Leeds based band, Hope and Social’s, second album ‘April’. Following their first album ‘Architect Of This Church’, ‘April’ provides a promising collaboration of profound melancholic lyrics and experimental tunes, definitely an essential summer album which captures a rare, special aura of new beginnings.

The Album begins with ‘April’, a beautiful opening track which consists of a soothing classical tune accompanied by a strong male vocal, which if likened to an existing popular band, would be best compared with that of ‘Mumford & Sons’. The lyrics and demo of the track were finished on the morning of the birth of (band member) Simon Wainwright’s son, and quite remarkably, the band have managed to capture a sense of new life and spring, reflected by the opening lyrics ‘this is where I long to be, among the springing greens, of April’.

‘Let’s Go Out Tonight’, the fourth track on the album, reflects the melancholy associated with the end of the northern winter and the promise of spring to come, ‘harden my eyes to the tears of the harshest of northern terrain’, these moody lyrics and fluid vocal are accompanied by the exciting notes of a brass band, an interesting combination which produces a fantastic sound.

The album is laced with more up-beat, feel-good tracks such as ‘James’ and ‘Pitching Far Too High’ however, the track which stands out to me is the romantic, ‘Ripples Rock My Boat’. Being a fan of ‘Bon Iver’, this track is definitely one of the highlights of the album, consisting of beautiful acoustic notes which pluck at your heartstrings, accompanied by passionate lyrics, ‘I still believe in the power of a kiss’.

Hope and Social have produced a collection of tracks which are full of musical and seasonal promise, ‘April’ is definitely worth a listen.

We are playing the entire album here on Leeds Indie Radio for you to sample and it is available to buy on a Pay What You Want basis from Hope & Social’s Bandcamp page.