Alberta Cross - “Morning Drum”
UK based Alberta Cross is set to release the new album, Sinking Ships, and their latest single, “Morning Drum,” is an excellent preview of what’s to come.
The song starts with distorted guitar soaring over an acoustic, creating a moody landscape. The music gathers momentum with drums, pushing elegantly into the rousing and soaring “woahs” of the chorus. These sections provide the composition with a sense of grandeur– as soon as you hear them, you know this is an anthem.
The bass guitar provides a deep, low foundation as the song develops with piano, subtly adding to the stormy mood of the verses. The music is enhanced by synth pads, which give the song a subtle, but moving texture. The verses also act as nice dynamic breaks for the rousing chorus sections to grow in size as each one passes.
Above the distorted guitar’s noises and rhythm, the vocals are tonally sweet and perfectly give the music what it needs: emotion and feeling to the music and lyrics. The lyrics, which contrast the chilly, gloomy season with the lush, beautiful summer, were inspired by a long, dreary winter in Berlin and trips to eastern Europe, reflecting on the region’s sombre past. Despite the context, you can tell by those anthemic chorus sections that summer is coming soon.
“Morning Drum” is a great example of Alberta Cross’ ability to write emotive and uplifting music. Fans of anthemic indie rock music won’t want to miss it.