They say good things take time. Springloader finally announce their arrival with a quality debut album. The four-piece indie rock band from Christchurch have delivered a record, Just Like Yesterday, which shows they have something about them. From the opening fast-paced riff of the title track, you sit back and realise that they are tight, and their music has an endearing charm about it. This album has been a long time in the making. They formed in late 1993 by Rob Mayes, with Springloader principally being a vehicle for Mayes’ own compositions. They were searching for their sound.
They had a temporary break which “accidentally” lasted two decades. Skip forward to 2020 and Mayes, Andrew Kerr and Michael Oakley reconvened to pick up where they left off and worked towards their original vision. And now here we are. There is more than a touch of irony in the title as this body of work has been crafted over three decades. They have found something, and it is great that this 10-track album has finally been recorded and released. There is a layered sound, and the album grows on you the more you listen to it.
After the quality opening track, there are more memorable moments in Falling Away, One More Thing, and Closer To Further Away. Sometimes it is upbeat, and at others it is melancholy and reflective, Just Like Yesterday covers a range of moods and feelings. There is an undeniable quality with the subtle melody of frontman Mayes bleeding into the on-point drumming and rhythm section.
Drumming was an issue back in the day with stickman David Toland proving a hard man to pin down when they were just gaining some momentum. But that is all in the past. Like they say, when it rains it pours, and the band has a second album in progress which is scheduled for release in 2025. It will be good to see them back up this record in quick fashion. Check them out this summer if you get the chance, the lads have been waiting a long time to play you this record.
