Current Swell’s fourth album, Long Time Ago has buttloads of potential. The band is an eclectic mix of a few different styles; folk, roots, blues, rock, and it is this combination that is both their victory and their downfall. While this mix of styles is successful in songs like ‘Shelter’ and ‘Up the Hill’, in others, not least ‘Young and Able’, the band end up sounding like a mash-up of John Butler Trio and Red Hot Chili Peppers.
The album is solid, with smooth, catchy guitar hooks spread throughout and, musically, the album is pretty great. But Scott Stanton, Current Swell’s lead singer, lets the team down with his irritating vocals. Stanton’s voice seems to be somewhere between John Butler, old school Ben Harper, and Marcus Mumford, and let me tell you, it is an irritating combination. He even seems to throw in some kind of Jamaican accent on a couple of songs, particularly in ‘I Want a Bird’, the album’s fourth track.
But if you can block out the timbre of Stanton’s vocals, then you’ll be in for a treat, because the groove that the rest of the band has going is something for everyone to enjoy. The sweet guitar hooks that are spread throughout the album are particularly pleasing to one’s earballs, setting a nice relaxing rhythm and giving the album momentum.
Current Swell still aren’t really my style, but this is a good album for a relaxing day at home. I can only hope that by the time they release their next album, Stanton tries a little less hard at being a caricature of other famous singers and finds his own style.