So Be It Album Review

Not enough albums come along and, by showing what can happen when a band forges their own unique sound, make you question why so many other bands stick with trying to emulate everyone else. Gatherer manage to force that question home, and make it seem effortless at the same time, with the release of their debut album So Be It.

These former Wellingtonians moved to Melbourne as This City Sunrise, before changing name and direction. There are still touches of This City Sunrise within the music, but make no mistake – Gatherer are a truly original beast and prove it throughout their album.

So Be It is 12 tracks of dark, guitar-driven pop, full of strong vocal harmonies. From opener International Getaway, to the closing notes of DDPXL, this album never lets up and constantly surprises. It’s the stripped back harmonies of the title track, the passion of Camp Creative, the dark mournfulness of Sinister, that make this album what it is.

It’s in the subtle keyboard backing, the driving rhythms and the heavy riffs, that you’ll find why Gatherer stand apart from so many of their peers. It’s those little touches, the care and effort the band has put into each song, and the thought that’s gone into the flow of the album, that will keep you coming back to it, over and over again.

This is my favourite album of 2012 so far, and if you take the time to listen to it, I’m sure it’ll be yours too.