Porridge Radio
Clouds in the Sky They Will Always Be There For Me (Secretly Canadian)
Porridge Radio's fourth album, Clouds in the Sky They Will Always Be There For Me is a perfect encapsulation of what the Brighton band does best. Unrestrained and visceral emotion gives way to poetic sadness as the tracks progress, with Dana Margolin's unmistakeable lyricism used to great effect, regardless of the tone.
This is their third release on Secretly Canadian, following the superb Every Bad (2020) and Waterslide, Diving Board, Ladder to the Sky (2022). While they hit the ground running after signing with the label, with Every Bad making the Mercury Prize shortlist, and Waterslide, Diving Board, Ladder to the Sky charting in the UK Top 40, the intensity of non-stop touring and Margolin's subsequent burnout became a catalyst for a breakup, and ultimately the content of new record.
As on their previous albums, Porridge Radio are masters of building intensity. Frequently throughout the tracks this culminates in raucous guitars and Margolin's vocals escalating to screams. But then at the other end of the scale you get moments like those found in In A Dream I'm A Painting, which just dials up the emotion in an utterly heartbreaking way. They manage to capture that moment where rage and passion give way to devastation and despondent resignation incredibly effectively.
The record is a journey through emotions, occasionally cathartic, occasionally painful, but overwhelmingly honest throughout. And despite taking a turn towards melancholia in the second half of the album, closing track Sick of the Blues ends the record with a little more optimism. Potentially a good move, considering Waterslide, Diving Board, Ladder to the Sky ended with its completely devastating title track, making it difficult to come away from it without feeling bereft after every listen. But while Sick of the Blues certainly has its place on this album, it slightly overshadows Pieces of Heaven, which builds to its own, more understated, hint of optimism. That being said, it's difficult to begrudge Margolin her desire to shake off the pain and find a way forward.
Overall, it's an incredibly honest record. Their previous releases have always felt personal, but here it seems less like a reflection on situations past, and more of an encapsulation of the time it was recorded. And while the emotions still feel raw, the instrumental arrangement shrugs off the DIY feel from previous albums and complements Margolin's vocals more effectively than ever. This is in no small part down to bringing in Dom Monks (longtime Big Thief and Laura Marling producer, to name a few), working directly with him during the recording sessions.
Clouds In The Sky They Will Always Be There For You feels like an album Porridge Radio needed to make, not just for Dana Margolin's catharsis, but to determine their future direction as a band. And it definitely seems like they know where they're headed.
A big welcome to our new Manchester-based correspondent, the fabulous Hannah Clarke. We've been chatting to Hannah on the internet for a couple of years now in admiration of not only her personal brand, but also her incredible taste in music. Finally, we get to publish one of her most excellent reviews.
But there's plenty more where that came from:
Follow her on Instagram : @alt_version
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