Album Review: Gently Tender - 'Take Hold Of Your Promise!'
Utilising the wisdom of experience, Gently Tender formed as an expression of kindness and compassion in the wake of the collapse of South London band Palma Violets. Five years on from their foundation, they release their debut album 'Take Hold Of Your Promise', a soothing and profound antidote to our life and times and a record deserves it's place alongside some of the best releases of the year.
The record is set to be released on So Young Records and was produced by Matthew E. White, who flew over to work with the band in the midst of lockdown at Rockfield Studios following early recording sessions at Spacebomb in Richmond, Virginia.
Teaming up with fellow Palma Violets alumnus, Will Doyle and Peter Mayhew in addition to renowned guitarist Adam Brown and The Big Moon's Celia Archer, Sam Fryer started Gently Tender as a creative reminder to treat himself more softly. On the band's debut record they perfectly embody their founding principles of self acceptance to provide the ultimate remedy for these dark times.
Kicking off with the irresistible vocal harmonies of Fryer and Archer, the album's opener 'Home Anymore' is resplendent in it's many layers and defines the tone of the LP straight from the off. Lyrically, the record straddles the duality of light and dark and echoes the the likes of Philip Larkin's 'Aubade' in its observations of the residual beauty within a melancholic existence to create a body of work that marvels at life through the unfiltered human gaze.
Amongst the backdrop of the current boon in post-punk, Gently Tender's new album is an almost spiritual experience. Warm in it's instrumentation and rooted in folk and gospel sensibilities, the record evokes a feeling of unity in the face of shared human experiences. No track exemplifies this as much as 'Love All The Population', Sam Fryer explains that "this song was written in the first lockdown - like lots of people I had spent many hours reflecting on the togetherness of our existence pre-pandemic. I was thinking a lot about the now-empty spaces - empty music venues particularly - not only closing because of the pandemic! So this song was a bit of a lament to those".
Throughout the track list other highlights include the likes of 'True Colour (Sometimes I'll Get Through)' and 'Sunlight In Motion' a track that focuses on the times when "you are suddenly caught in a moment and you feel able to reflect on your life, observe from the outside and feel nostalgic for it, like Deja vu that puts your life in perspective". As moment's like this become more fleeting, it is records like Take 'Hold Of Your Promise' that allow us valuable moments of meditation amongst the chaos. On their debut album, Gently Tender have created a record that illuminates the darkest recesses of the soul at exactly the time we need it the most. An instant classic!
Words by Jordan Corrigan
