Album Review: HighSchool - 'Highschool'
Post-Punk duo and Goth revivalists Highschool create a visionary first album.
Alternative post-punk band HighSchool (Comprised of Rory Trobbiani and Luke Scott) have returned with a dramatic and overcast debut album “HighSchool”, releasing October 21st. This band have slowly codified the modern image of the more electronic and melody-focused post-punk music and has done so in emphatic fashion. bringing a fusion of Strokes like reverbed and overdubbed vocals mixed with melancholic and withered instrumental sections, HighSchool have always been able to create a brilliant atmosphere that makes grey and gloomy days feel that touch more enjoyable, the blend of influences and the chaos of their chord patterns and high paced drum tracks all fuel the fire that creates one of the best rainy-day albums I have experienced to date. This album is a complete body of work and knows exactly where it stands; they stick firmly within the confines of their sound, making it feel like home for both artist and listener and letting the spacy and ethereal chords echo into the void, hoping for someone to call back.
The intro track and recent single “Dipped” takes their sound and adds layer after layer of craftsmanship to the mix to keep the listener coming back. this opener could not have been better placed in the 12 track span as they take their simple yet innovative riffs, dubbed over panicked and racing chord progressions to make the instant feeling of poetic and gorgeous existential dread. Every layer of this track wraps itself neatly into the next and creates a seamless flow of engineering, this sound is an instant hit and truly encapsulates everything that this band intend to put across. The plethora of influences is evident immediately as the music's heart is worn on its sleeve, while leaving plenty to the imagination, they bear all and show you where this music came from, and why it's here.
Ben Hiller’s time behind the desk of the esteemed and legendary Depeche Mode bleeds into every facet of the writing process for this album. The album has an archetypal gothic feel that creates a pure synergy with their post-punk sound, adding weight to the music and making the emotional blows hit with extra emphasis. This is evident throughout the body of work but is most standout in the tracks “Sony Ericsson” and “Chaplins”. Both these tracks take a blend of new and old guard, using this mixture of noise to build something excellent. These tracks are mixed perfectly, with every note being precise and every message being impactful. The gloomy yet bright lyrical content of “Sony Ericsson” takes the opposite approach to the hot mulligan method, where a crushing and visceral song is shrouded in an upbeat and soaring track, sealed with a wacky title. Instead, High School hides an honest and reflective love song under an otherwise harrowing and tear-provoking instrumental. A similar effect is used with “Chaplins”, mixing in clipped monologues with lyrics about getting lost in the city and searching for someone you love for comfort, all pushed out to the world under a decaying and dreary melody that’s been crafted with precision.
The other single that has not yet been mentioned is “149”. This song takes a similar approach to the previous tracks in the beginning before taking a sharp turn into a future indie club night classic, the rapid fire and perpetual ripple of the hi-hat couples perfectly with the string skipping riff that dictates the pace and effect of the song. This expertly creates a song that you can not only hear but also physically feel yourself move to. This album adds to the already impressive resume of High School, and the singles are true standouts that will most definitely get fans through the door to experience the entire piece.
The back half of the album introduces some slightly brighter tracks that although inviting a tonal shift, do not feel out of place for the band tracks like “One Lucky Man” and “Making Out At The Skatepark” introduce a switch to major key chord progressions followed by accentuated bass lines and the chirp of a keys section, this helps drive the overall feeling of the band forward, showing that they are no one trick pony and can stretch the parameters of their sound far and wide to create something fresh and tasteful. These tracks are blissful and creative, and allow the following tracks to breathe as they swing back into the more mellow and emotive sound. This sound is again welcomed with open arms as you can feel the band actively progress the layering, as well as the experimentation, as the album continues. This sound is then derailed by the closing track “Colt” as it immediately hits 88 miles per hour and sends you back in time to the days of shoulder pads and expert overproduction. “Colt” could very easily be mistaken for an ’80s anthem as they pull out the multi-effects keyboard and really get wild with it. They blend their signature sound with this canon of nostalgia that fires straight into the listener’s ear to create a truly memorable closing track.
The debut album is a leap forward in the storyline for High School. Being no stranger to popularity, having toured with the likes of Sam Fender, Wunderhorse and Chvrches and sold out a plethora of vinyl runs, the band aim to continue the current trajectory by keeping the pace up and releasing new music consistently, this band is a love letter to the lingering echos of old gothic bands while simultaneously being a looking glass into whats to come for post-punk.
Words by Josh Pook
