From the ashes of the late Inheaven, who burned briefly but brightly over the last few years of the previous decade, rises Wings Of Desire.
Chloe Little and James Taylor’s first EP under the name – End Of An Age – was more inward-looking and introspective, whereas on Amun-Ra they aim for the stars once again, with success.
Amun-Ra is named after the Egyptian deity, the transcendental creator of the universe and the god of light, which should give you some idea of the subject matter included.
Exuberant opener Choose A Life riffs on the infamous and instructive Trainspotting monologue (‘Choose a life, get a job, pick a wife, fuck it all,’) while covering the nature of friendship and self-love. Yet it’s delivered through a spectrum of gloriously ecstatic shoegaze on a summer breeze, the type of music to listen to on a starry summer night and divine in its majesty.
Better Late Than Never brings things if not down to earth then certainly just above the clouds. More freneticism on the quasi-garage-punk guitars, carrying the energy of mid-period Kings Of Leon. The mantra of the song (‘just getting older’) is in turns abrupt and liberating, depending on Taylor’s delivery, the latter of which sounding uncannily like Gary Lightbody.
The EP does capture a late-00’s vibe, nowhere more so than on Forgive & Forget, where Taylor and Little’s dual vocals and the festival singalong intent evokes Arcade Fire doing krautrock, while the stomping Outtamamind features energetic strings and neo-synths, but has a guitar solo plucked right from your favourite indie night of 2008.
This is in no way a criticism; in fact, it stands Wings Of Desire apart from the proto-post-punk-era alternative music is currently focused on.
Dream-pop conjures up images or feelings of distance and deftness; Amun-Ra represents a more lucid, solid and superior take on the genre. A sweet tonic and very welcome surprise.
Richard Bowes
