Album Review: Swimming Tapes – Morningside
Swimming Tapes – Morning Side
Words: Amy Butcher
Have you ever listened to a song that instantly transports you to a nostalgic summer memory? That’s what Swimming Tapes’ debut Morningside does for me. After hearing their latest single Pyrenees, I fell in love with the London based 5-piece and I haven’t looked back. Morningside is the perfect debut from one of my faves.
From start to finish, the music flows serendipitously with soothing, melodic rhythms for a full 36 minutes. Passing Ships opens this debut with jangly guitar, soft drumbeats and singer Louis Price’s dreamy vocals; it makes you feel like you’re on a cloud. The guitar melodies remind me of the late Her’s mixed with musical styling’s similar to The Beach Boys, and this is especially prevalent in Silhouette and Out of Line.
As the album continues, Swimming Tapes take you on a flowery 70s dream pop journey, you glide through the songs as if surfing a wave. With belters Pyrenees and Keep Her Closer rounding off a phenomenal album, I’m left in awe at the pure talent and passions oozing from the sounds as the last few notes fade out of In The New Year.
Stepping off a UK headline tour, announcing another one and festival season well under way, 2019 is turning out to be quite the year for Swimming Tapes.
To catch them on their UK album tour dates below, buy tickets here.
LIVE
1 NOV – Voodoo, Belfast
2 NOV – The Hug and Pint, Glasgow
3 NOV – Hyde Park Book Club, Leeds
5 NOV – The Louisiana, Bristol
7 NOV – The Bodega, Nottingham
8 NOV – Soup Kitchen, Manchester