Concrete Disco – As The Crow Flies (2025)
Going into a record blind is something I love to do, and I jumped at the chance to take on this review of the brand new offering from the Bristol contingent, Concrete Disco. As The Crow Flies is an album which has a sound that, from the first listen, feels contemporary yet nostalgic.
Opening with ‘Reaching Up’, the vocals captivate you as if incanting a mantra for all to hear. As the beat dropped, it was clear this is a track to get lost in. It became evident quickly that this was going to be classic electro done right, whilst still offering an indie feel. Moving on to track two, Concrete Disco established that they’re not a one-trick pony and to throw away any expectations that you know what is coming. ‘Brambles’ made me think back to the first time I heard Ghostpoet, a raw, unapologetic release of expression, which was all carried along by musical talent, which is clearly the lynch pin holding it all together.
Flying through the album, I was met by just more of their excellent sound, just getting better the more I listened. Then came a personal highlight of mine, ‘Running’. It is just the perfect storm of a chilled-out track with simple vocals that let music take centre stage. I love the contrast of the steady beat from the extremely talented drums and the ethereal bridges interspersed throughout the track. Even the closing few bars of the track had me just wanting to hit repeat, which I would have done if not for the opening bars of the following track, ‘Gonna End in Tears’, which offered a slightly darker tone akin to many a Nordic noir soundtrack I’ve listened to over the years. I really enjoyed this new change of pace, as Concrete Disco just reinforced that they are not a band to stick with one sound.
It was hard to pick my track of the album in such a great collection of music, but ‘Motherland’ for me edged the rest. Every part of it was perfect, from the sombre, soulful vocals to the jangly guitars, all being held together with a simple yet effective drumbeat. It has an undeniable ’80s feel with parallels to the greats of the era like Depeche Mode. It is one of those tracks you truly can get lost in, which I did and continue to and have played it to anyone who’ll listen.
Throughout this review, I could not stop thinking that I need to see this band live; this is clearly a sound which can only be elevated on stage. Learning that they’ve supported the likes of Deadmau5 and Modstep, on top of performing at Glastonbury and Secret Garden, only strengthens this theory, and when they bring their show north, I’ll for sure be there.
Anyways, back to the album, I could very easily give you a track-by-track breakdown of the record, but I want to leave you some mystery. Just trust me that As The Crow Flies is a record that you need in your collection.
Find out more about Concrete Disco on their official website, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, Bandcamp, Soundcloud, YouTube and Spotify.
This artist was sent to us by Obsidian PR.
