Ward Thomas - Cartwheels

Country duo Catherine and Lizzy Ward Thomas return with their second album and this fourteen-track album is a delightful example of solid harmonies, touching melodies and country-pop crossovers, on an album that’s surprisingly downbeat for the pair, especially in light of the debut singles, with most songs lyrically quite dark and introspective, touching on negative aspects of love and relationships.

The LP opens up with the first single ‘Carry You Home’, a lighters-out opening to the record, and one that certainly builds up from its almost acapella opening to something with much more beat, and becomes a little perkier than its initial lyrics would suggest and becomes pretty uplifting, and feels like a solid anthem to open up with.

‘Almost Easy’ again keeps things subtle and low-key, but showcases the beautiful voices of the pair. ‘Material’ which follows, though still of a similar tempo, is a much stronger number, its finger-clicking beat and Fleetwood Mac feel proving a delight.

The titular track comes next, a twangy guitar-led number that once more mixes up the harmonies with stripped back production and quite down-played lyrics.

Second single ‘Guilty Flowers’ is the first time the album really hits anything resemble a quick tempo and though the lyrics are as solemn as previous tracks the music has a bit more punch and is a great single thanks to its catchy hooks and chorus.

‘Lose Me’ is one of my favourite songs on the album, its bouncy music off-setting its biting lyrics, and feels like the next single, plenty of confidence injected into the rhyming chorus and subsequent calls of the chorus. ‘Good On You’, meanwhile, starts off with a Radiohead vibe, settling firmly into ballad territory though lacking the spark found elsewhere.

‘When It’s Not Me’ has more an indie swagger to it and some great tongue-in-cheek lines such as ‘I Bet He Gets Laid…ies.’. One of the best tracks on the album, this sees Catherine and Lizzy on spunky form and feels like a strong change of tempo from the rest of the album, and feels like a future cut from the album. Follower ‘Boomerang’ is just as great, its funky drum riff and catchy chorus really selling the track and making this another highlight of the album.

‘Dirt and Gold’ is another strong song lyrically and musically and feels more upbeat in both respects. ‘Where the Sky Is’ goes all Adele with its piano riff and the title-focussed chorus and gradual building up works well. ‘Proof’, is rather Simon and Garfunkel and another of my favourites on the album thanks to its gentle feeling, building harmonies and lyrical hooks.

‘Cartwheels’ wraps up with two more quieter numbers, the gentle ‘Who I’m Not’ and the introspective ‘Safe’ whose ‘you’re safe here riff’ compliments the opener well.

Ward Thomas’ follow up to 2015’s ‘From Where We Stand’ is a surprisingly quiet affair with a sustained gentle feel to it, with little of the upbeat vibe common in their previous hits like ‘Push To The Stride’, ‘A Town Called Ugley’ and ‘Guest List’ and I found myself wishing they’d kick up the pace a little bit more. The best tracks outside of the two singles are definitely ‘Love Me’, ‘When It’s Not Me’, ‘Boomerang’ and ‘Dirt and Gold’, my personal preference is when they lift the pace up.

What’s on the LP has lots of heart and though the overall tone is darker and more solemn in tone and in terms of lyrics, there’s still pleasant of passion, quality harmonies and polish within the music. (7/10)