Soul Collectors

You’ve done yourself a disservice if you’ve only listened to Aussie-based Cloud Control’s debut album Bliss Release (UK version) once. It takes a few listens to properly articulate what each member of the quartet is doing in each song. Helping to lead the way of the folk-pop path, Cloud Control presents the promise of producing albums that people will actually care about for at least a few years longer than your average buzz-band.

Starting off folky enough in “Meditationg Song #2 (Why Oh Why),” vocalists Allister Wright and Heidi Lenffer (also on keys) come together for a pretty-sounding duet on top of an acoustic guitar’s catchy melody, followed by the faint sound of an electric guitar, and then a tambourine, and then hand-clapping. This is all in the first 1 minute and 30 seconds of Bliss Release.

The feel-good tunes show no signs of disappearing with the follow-up track, “There’s Nothing in the Water We Can’t Fight.” Wright’s vocals again are stunning and will likely be what initially hooks a listener, unless you’re trying to feel nostalgic. In that case, you’ll quickly and easily latch onto the grungy strumming of the rhythm (Wright) and bass (Jeremy Kelshaw) guitars that graces every song, which often mirror many ’90s alt-rock gems. “This Is What I Said” may be the catchiest track on the album and each member of the band equally shares the spotlight.

With tunes that are sing-along-worthy and immensely built up, this is a band to try to catch live.