Catching castles in the sky
We Caught The Castle's 2010 self-titled debut EP was an enticing teaser, a concise three-track hint of what was to come. The energetic Reading outfit did not rush the development of their first full-length release and as the album assaults with brutal sonic punches before comforting with tender melodiousness, it is quite clear that We Caught the Castle have genuinely taken time to grow as an ensemble.
Time To Grow's simmering intro bleeds fluidly into the album's title track, a statement of confidence fuelled by pent-up anger. The pairing of it with following track That Poor Boy makes for an intense start to the album, yet the incensed male backing vocals always juxtapose singer Hollie Cobb's gorgeous melodic lines superbly. The vocals provided by Cobb's bandmates are not always anger-ridden and the ensemble effortlessly gel together in these harmonious moments. Patterns displays a loveable pop-punk feel with delightful tuneful twists in the song's middle eight. The track departs with the pairing of a solo cello line and an acoustic guitar; a heavenly refuge amongst such a flurry of energy.
Spirited debut EP song Lips makes a return and fits in naturally alongside the newer material, dividing the sublimely harmonised Everything You Are and the delicate Summers. The triplet feel of Home rejuvenates the album with its spiking rhythmic activity, as do various sections of Escape, suitably preparing for the turbulent activity and brooding rage encapsulated in Memories.
Before you know it, the album has fluently flowed into the bookend track Outro, which rounds off the fourteen-song debut album in similar manner to the full-length release's opener. This wraps up Time To Grow's sense of connection perfectly; the band haven't simply stuck an intro and outro on each end in the hope that it would cast the illusion of continuity, they've woven a compelling collection of heartfelt songs together in such a way that they segue into one another as if they were a single entity.
Time To Grow is an exciting release from the young five-piece and a promising evolution from their already impressive self-titled debut EP. From the anthemic Generations to the understated Answers, We Caught the Castle's first full-length opus is a beautifully devised journey of emotional discovery. Catch them while you can.