We Are There

by Modern Studies

Overview

After debuting with 2016's enchanting Swell to Great, U.K. psych-folk outfit Modern Studies spent the next half-decade testing the boundaries of their unique sound. The group's ambitious follow-up, Welcome Strangers, seemed to receive the full bore of their creative might while 2020's Weight of the Sun was a much more downplayed foray into contemporary dream pop. With album number four, Modern Studies migrate toward their tonal center, collating their best attributes into a consistent and very appealing set of songs. As ever, the combined voices of Emily Scott and Rob St. John are the band's true north, guiding the music through the quiet glades of "Comfort Me" and the winding stream of "Two Swimmers," occasionally dipping into harmony, but more often in unison. The mood of We Are There is rich and loamy with hints of ancient Albion folk tradition and an insistent baroque pop presence thanks to its many fine string parts. The album's lyrical meeting of naturalist poetry and inward exploration only enhances the beguiling arrangements, which lean more toward the organic than some of the group's more recent synth-driven work. Perhaps the best of the bunch is "Wild Ocean," a magnificent specimen of lotic psych-pop that stands among the best songs Modern Studies have produced. The primary piano/guitar/bass/drums instrumental combination drives the ship with a sense of energetic reserve, especially on some of the more dynamic cuts like "Won't Be Long" and "Do You Wanna," over which the harmonic convergence of strings and voices plays out. As a collection, We Are There feels sophisticated yet elemental in its fine construction. It sounds like the work of a band who know themselves and trust their instincts. ~ Timothy Monger

Product Details

Release Date:	05/13/2022
Label:	Fire Records
UPC:	0809236164018
Rank:	164083

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Modern Studies   Primary Artist
Liam Lynch   Viola
Emily Scott   Piano,Viola,Violin,Vocals,Synthesizer
Pete Harvey   Bass,Cello,Viola,Violin,Synthesizer,Vocals (Background)
Rob St. John   Gong,Guitar,Vocals,Harmonium,Synthesizer
Kate Miguda   Violin
Joe Smillie   Drums,Mellotron,Percussion,Synthesizer,Vocals (Background)

Technical Credits

Denis Blackham   Mastering
Emily Scott   Composer,Vocal Arrangement,String Arrangements
Niall McCormack   Design
Pete Harvey   Mixing
Rob St. John   Composer,Vocal Arrangement,String Arrangements
Modern Studies   Producer
Joe Smillie   Vocal Arrangement
Brenda Goodman   Cover Painting