tourist attraction - dusk

Tourist Attraction

Dusk
self-released; 2014

3.7 out of 5

By Ethan Skelton

After releasing their first single “Heartless Man” in 2013, Tourist Attractions have now begun the promotion of their debut EP Dusk and it arrived just in time. They allowed the single to simmer and garner attention for quite some time before unleashing a full product.  The band formed at the end of April 2013 during their respective college careers. Not long after the first rehearsal, their hometown of Lancashire, in Northwest England, was booking them frequently which started Tourist Attractions off on a great foot with growing more in tune and represented in the regional circuit. After a small line up change Sugar House Music approached the group and the team embarked on the recording process of Dusk and the rest is history.

The album has an unmistakably new wave sound with up-tempo drums and guitar with singsong elements and a lot of reverb. The highlight of the album has to be “Silhouette.” The energy is high from the ignition of a pronounced drum intro outlining a bold polyrhythm. Once the wave crashes it’s back to classic dance feel and a pulse that won’t quit.

 As stated before, “Heartless Man” was the foreseen single and a close second in my opinion. The beat is irresistible and the lyrics have a great flow and repetition – “No one can move him” is just asking to be yelled from the crowds. “Lovers and Dancers” pours on the groove for the first time with medium pace, but hot execution. The guitar is fresh and noodling in the interlude while the drums pump up the chorus into a half time Britpop storm.

The lead guitar is delightfully melodic on “Blazing Sun,” taking on a few different tones and registers and at times just outlines chords to allow for the bass and vocal to take hold. This is a great change of pace and intensifies the chorus even more. It hits and sails for eight bars, but fades before a bridge. I kind of wanted that bridge. Tourist Attractions’ method is to give you just what the song needs and they don’t overdo it. And that’s a refreshing approach that I can appreciate more than find fault in. I’m sure you’ll feel the same.

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