Reminiscent and resplendent.

In his newest album Haunted, Bill Pritchard leans into what’s arguably his most defining characteristic: an unapologetically British sensibility. This resulted in a record that may be brand new but has all the traits of a classic Britpop rock album. Its melodic melancholy is steeped in drizzle and dreariness. 

Admittedly, the opening track, built around the endlessly repeated refrain “I was the perpetual tourist,” circles its central idea of alienation and homesickness with such insistence that it risks becoming stationary. While there’s something admirably stubborn in its commitment, the repetition here feels less hypnotic than tiresome. 

However, things brighten considerably with “Smile,” a track that lands somewhere between the mysterious enchantment of Echo & the Bunnymen and the conversational charm of Lily Allen. A cute tune carries Pritchard’s voice through the bridge, one of the album’s most disarming moments. It’s nearly impossible to not get lost in the sway of the charming beat. 

Despite the existence of a title track, “Curious Feeling” is really where Haunted earns its name. Gloomy with a faint glimmer of hope, it walks the tightrope between grieving the past and urging resilience. Its emotional ambiguity gives it depth, and the lyrics stand out for their quiet precision. This is Pritchard at his strongest, telling a story ridden with wistful nostalgia.

The seventh track of the record has a breezy quality to it that oftentimes nears on whimsical. If one were to imagine a British Jack Johnson soundtracking an episode of Sesame Street, “Intrigue and Wonder” has a high chance of manifesting itself within their head. Through a subtle nod to The Beatles with its sweet guitar tone, Pritchard strummed his way into an unexpected goldmine.

Immediately following this, “Lillie” leans more American as it channels the storytelling cadence of Bob Dylan. Its deep, layered vocals and rich brass arrangement do wonders in emulating an incredibly strong folk song that’s sure to stand the test of time. 

If Pritchard is a musician in this life, he must’ve been an architect in a past one, judging by the way he creates impeccably strong bridges in each of his songs. Structural, harmonic, emotional–time and again, he constructs passages that elevate his songs from modest melodies to resonant recollections.

Haunted might not have reinvented the Bill Pritchard wheel, but its tried-and-true nature brings with it such comfortability that there are no complaints to be found.