5 Reasons You Should Listen To Strawhouses' New Album “Time in the Light”

Strawhouses' Time in the Light is the kind of album that gives you plenty of reasons to keep going once you've pressed play. The band's second record, released via Now Listen, takes in relationships, history, mortality and those everyday moments that can seem insignificant until they're gone. Here are five reasons that make it worth your attention.

1. It has a lot of ground to cover

This isn't an album built around one subject or mood. "Fireworks" takes its inspiration from First World War poetry, "My Saving Grace" takes the form of a final love letter from a deathbed, and "The Last Day" imagines an ordinary walk through the streets as the world comes to an end. That's quite a range for ten tracks.

2. Strawhouses aren't afraid to change the mood

"Flickers" brings a softer, dreamier feel, while "Circling the Drain" takes a much more forceful approach. Elsewhere, strings, trumpet, piano, synths and layered guitars appear in different combinations, giving the music room to shift from one song to the next. It keeps the listening experience lively without turning into a grab bag of ideas.

3. "No Other Way Round" has a story you can actually get lost in

The song centres on two people who have strong feelings for each other but decide to end their relationship while pursuing different ambitions. It's a distinctly personal situation for a song, which is part of what makes it work. Rather than dressing the story up in vague language, Strawhouses give it a clear emotional conflict that is easy to understand.

4. The album finds plenty of light in its heavier themes

Yes, Time in the Light deals with death and the end of things. But the album also keeps returning to the value of being here in the first place. The title track captures that idea particularly well, encouraging us to pay attention to the present and appreciate it while it's here. That sense of optimism gives the album plenty of warmth and leaves the listener with an encouraging sense of perspective.

5. There's plenty here to discover beyond the obvious tracks

"Back When You Cared", "Warships" and "Shards" all deserve attention, particularly if the songs that have received the most attention are what initially draw you in. They help show the breadth of the record and make the full tracklist feel worth exploring.

Ultimately, Time in the Light is an album with personality. Strawhouses have filled it with unique situations, changing moods and songs that aren't afraid to tackle subjects bigger than themselves. If the usual Friday-release routine has started to feel a bit predictable, this is a good one to put on and spend some time with.