Album Review: False Heads – 'It’s All There but You’re Dreaming'

‘It’s All There but You’re Dreaming’ sets the bar high for big rock n’ roll songs.

False Heads debut album ‘It’s All There but You’re Dreaming’ is a masterclass of contemporary British rock. It has everything you want – monstrous riffs, thunderous drumming, sleazy basslines and vocals that can escalate from a whisper to a scream. It’s a mixture of hard rock, punk and grunge with False Heads own twist on the three genres. But what makes these songs stand out is the importance of melody and great hooks in the songs that prove False Heads are fine songwriters. All of this you can hear in tracks such as the superb single ‘Fall Around’; as well as songs such as ‘Twenty Nothing’, ‘Slew’ and ‘Wrap Up’. And ‘Rabbit Hole’. And ‘Ink’. In fact, pretty much the whole album.

Singer and guitarist Luke Griffiths says of the album: “It’s not the same song twelve times and even though it’s aggressive it’s also delicate”. And this is true, certainly with opener ‘Whatever You Please’ that starts soft and slow and ends heavy like a wrecking ball smashing into a wall. ‘Comfort Consumption’ is even more delicate – a lovely jangling arpeggic guitar with an epic solo – it’s definitely a standout track. 

It’s All There but You’re Dreaming is the product of the last four years for the band and the ten years previous to that. It delves into themes of “depression, misery and addiction but also slight bursts of optimism and individual joy.” And False Heads have nailed it. They should be proud. It’s an excellent debut, and any fan of guitar music with big choruses needs to listen to it.

Words by Matthew Brocklehurst

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