And So I Watch You From Afar – Heirs (2015)

Let’s just get this out of the way – And So I Watch You From Afar’s newest record, Heirs is outstanding.

If their last effort, All Hail Bright Futures, was an exercise in throwing new ideas feverishly at the wall to see what would stick, Heirs is the result of sorting through this work with a keen eye and a cautious hand. The album doesn’t waste any time, bursting out of the gate with the thunderously frantic ‘Run Home,’ equal parts ripping guitar lead and anthemic dance-jam with complete with a two word singalong (guess which they are) that seem plucked from the best of the band’s vocal hooks.

But there’s a certain depth to Heirs as well. From cover to cover, there is all the youthful exuberance of Bright Futures – those spritely, sun-drenched hooks, meshed with the contemplative sensibility of Gangs and their self-titled debut. Back are some of the slim, dancy, one guitar leads of the Letters era in tracks like ‘People Not Sleeping’ (a solid favorite among the Fecking Bahamas staff) Though, the days of quiet meandering are long gone. ‘7 Billion People All Alive At Once’ this is not. Instead, everything on the album has been concentrated into its most crucial components. The song ‘Wasps’ is a testament to this. What reportedly began as a six minute epic, akin to ASIWYFA’s self-titled days, was trimmed down to “the purest form of [its] initial idea.” In fact, “wasping” was the term the band used when they felt something needed to be cut down.

In short, Heirs is different, while still feeling the same. ASIWYFA hasn’t so much trimmed the fat as they have inserted everything from their back catalogue into an industrial grade compactor, distilled the mash, and served it by the ounce in a snifter. The result is something that’s ultimately trim, but feels indulgent. There is so much richness packed into the ten tracks that it’s easy for a long time listener to slice into and count the layers of history. So grab a copy and get ready to sing and dance along, because the boys from Belfast have done it again.