EP Review: Palace – Chase The Light
Chase The Light
Released June 8th 2015
Words: Julia Grantham
Chase The Light is the second EP released by London four-piece Palace. Describing themselves as “Alternative Rock”, Palace take you on a journey with their music through a multitude of genres. Although very contemporary sounding, at times you can hear quite clearly the influences of grunge, post-rock and indie styles which makes for a wonderful blend of old and new.
The opening track, Head Above The Water, is very brooding and almost a cautionary tale, with wonderful swirling movements and wistful, deep vocals. This song has a very modern Indie-Rock vibe, and yet on occasion is reminiscent of early 90s grunge, specifically Pearl Jam. It has an almost ethereal quality to it, quite haunting yet potent at the same time.
What is most appealing about the songs on this EP is the constant yet subtle changes of tempo and rhythm throughout. Kiloran for example, is sublime and understated in places, and at others fast-paced and aggressive. As the song unfolds the mood goes from a lazy, sunny but blusey song to hardcore rock. It is hard to ignore the passion and raw emotion that has evidently poured into the composition of these tracks.
Settle Down is a fine example of Palace’s ability to manipulate rhythm to great effect, cleverly gathering pace to accentuate lyrics and bring certain phrases to the fore. Both blues and post-rock inspired, this band layers their tracks so well, it as if you are invited to be swept away on a musical journey of swirling guitars. There is something almost meditative about their sound, and very addictive.
The title track, Chase The Light, is the highlight of this fine EP in my opinion. It is beautifully understated in melody and heightens the vocals to their most clear and potent. A fine example of how an acoustic song can showcase a singer’s talents, by elevating them in such a subtle way.
Palace have a string of gigs and festival dates in place for the rest of 2015, and will surely delight their audiences with their wonderfully haunting, and profound music.
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