The London Suede
Night Thoughts
Reviewed by: Fareeha Naim
The London Suede is no stranger to the music world, and their seventh studio album Night Thoughts is further proof of their artistry and experience. Having formed in London in 1989, these guys keep proving they’re ahead of the curve—they distanced themselves from the Britpop craze in 1994 with Dog Man Star, and are once again taking the experimental route instead of a tried-and-true formula. This album has mastered the art of being dramatic without being pretentious—instead of seeming showy, an air of intensity and melancholy is laced within the music.
The best way to listen to Night Thoughts is straight through without interruptions, as the band intended. Which is exactly what I did. And then I proceeded to listen to it fully three more times because I quickly fell in love. Thematically, the album dwells on lost love, fear, and desire. The titles tell exactly what the music is conveying—from the frustrated miscommunication described in “What I’m Trying To Tell You” to the idealized bounce in “Like Kids,” you know exactly what will be happening in each track.
The brilliance of the music lies in the combination of narrative and instrumentations. “When You Are Young,” the first track, opens with strings that build upon each other before being joined by guitars, reminiscent of a dramatic rock concert entrance. Suede achieves harmony with guitar pop and grittier textures, producing bouncing tunes meshed with raw desperation. “No Tomorrow” stays upbeat, yet it chronicles fighting depression.
Coming out with a bold, transparent album further proves that The London Suede is a force to be reckoned with. Years later, they’re still creating music that experiments and pushes limits. Although what they will produce next is up in the air, one thing is for certain: I found a new album to have on repeat for a while.
Rating: Iconic
