Album Review: Declan Mckenna - 'What Happened To The Beach?’
An array of sheer musical talent and freedom: Declan Mckenna sets free his third studio album: ‘What Happened To The Beach?’.
The young star has been at the forefront of indie music for quite some time. After the huge success of his initial two records, any new material put out by the artist would be heavily anticipated. Of course, this brings some drawbacks: for instance, people may have set expectations of the music that should be produced.
Mckenna stated, on the making of the new album, that he “wanted to open up and not worry about things so much”, before going on to say: “I was putting a lot of pressure on myself in the past when I just needed to drop the intensity a bit and have some fun.”
‘What Happened To The Beach?’ embodies this feel of freedom and expression, of letting loose and relieving pressure. Declan Mckenna has mustered up a stunning album, and fans will be glad to hear that the artist has achieved it in a way that has been totally true to himself.
The album-opener is the largely acoustic number ‘Wobble’. A guitar riff which conjures up an array of emotions is central to the track, with Mckenna’s ever-striking voice pairing beautifully with it. The track is both mysterious, leaving listeners ready to hear the rest of the record, as well as fun and free towards its end. It’s the ultimate re-introduction into the world of Declan Mckenna.
Immediately following this is ‘Elevator Hum’, which has been a fan-favourite since its release as a single. The track itself is slower in pace than much of Mckenna’s previous work, yet it is just as brilliant. Upbeat drums drive the number, with the artist’s voice being made salient. The choruses are infectious, with that striking voice singing “I want you to believe you’re just like me”. Within the final minute of the song there is an outburst of instrumentation, with an array of sounds combining to produce what will be a true head-bopper at live shows.
Declan Mckenna has stated that his latest record holds songs which sound a lot like the music that he, himself, listens to. He went on list some of his influences, including Unknown Mortal Orchestra. Their ‘hypnotic and spacey energy’ was pointed out by Mckenna.
He really seems to tap into this style in tracks such as ‘I Write The News’. This one starts off slow, acoustic and almost similar to some Beatles numbers. This is short lived, though, for the track completely transforms into a groovy, spacey number which is totally controlled by an undeniable bass line. Yet again, the voice of Mckenna is the focal point. His range in this one is superb. From almost conversational verses to striking high notes in the choruses. The tracks holds a real confidence and will certainly have crowds moving, with the energy being completely contagious.
The singles released ahead of the album, including ‘Sympathy’, ‘Elevator Hum’, ‘Mulhollands Dinner and Wine’ and ‘Nothing Works’, sound even better when listened to in their selected position on the record. The latter of these has truly captured the imagination of listeners. It’s been tremendously well received.
These plaudits are more than warranted. The track is funky, upbeat and unmistakably Declan Mckenna. The artist has explained the origins of the tracks, saying: “Nothing Works came out of the frustration of feeling boxed in and tied to expectation, but it is a euphoric tune, at its core it’s a celebration of being true to yourself.” These ideas are conveyed within an unbelievable track. Like much of the record, it feels as though it could be a real hit when performed to audiences. The huge guitar solo towards the end is particularly poignant. You can almost see the festival crowds bouncing to ’Nothing Works’.
The tail end of the album is home to even more incredible tracks. ‘The Phantom Buzz (Kick In)’ yet again displays a new side to the continually memorising voice of Mckenna. His performance on this one is stunning. Yet again, though, all instruments play a key role, and it sounds to be one that will be epic as a full-band track when performed. This one has the lot: from bass lines that drive the track to fuzzy guitar riffs, everyone involved plays a vital role.
Most notable, perhaps, at the end of the record is ‘It’s An Act’: a thought-provoking musical journey that gives listeners one last chance to relish the album. It’s expertly crafted, carefully paced and precisely executed. The music, alone, will send listeners on a rollercoaster of emotions. Quite simply, it’s breath-taking, particularly the final moments of the number, where Mckenna’s voice harmonizes with an emotional string section.
In short, Declan Mckenna has achieved yet another stunning album with this one. His fresh style proves to be brilliant, with excellent tracks throughout. Much of the album feels set to be perfect for live shows, and fans will hope to hear the new material at his upcoming dates. ‘What Happened To The Beach?’ is a sublime record.
Words by Matthew Caslin
