The Swiss rock band showcase the ambitious scope of their immersive and rousing sound on their debut full length album
A collection of singles and an EP have seen Switzerland’s Mindless Crowd really beginning to announce themselves as an exciting modern rock band with the guile and thoughtful, introspective resonance to really make a name for themselves, and with the release of their debut album Wanderlust, they look to cement this status.
Following a brief introduction to the album in the form of ‘First Step’, the band showcase their thoughtful and dynamic appeal on tracks like ‘No Regret’ and ‘Star Chaser’, blending their thoughtful and moving nature with upbeat and captivating soundscapes that really bring their sound to life in rousing fashion, championing a sound that feels both nostalgic while having a cutting edge, modern charm to it that runs through its core.
‘Look Up More’ is a something of an interlude of a track that feels equal parts chaotic and atmospheric, buoyed by a dynamic bassline that feels brash and impactful while grasping for your attention and providing something a little bit different. The track serves as a more amped up and fervent successor to the earlier interlude ‘Look Up’, and keeps things progressing in a fun way.
This leads nicely into ‘Dreamscape’, a track that embodies some of the catchier and more considered aspects of the bands sound, a single that is their most successful release to date. The signature deep vocals mesh really nicely with a sunny soundscape here and jangly guitars and make for a great showcase of the band at their shimmering best.
‘Lost in Harmony’ follows which is perhaps the most ambitious and winding track on the album, a six minute instrumental journey that explores the range and depth of the band’s sound, especially through its use of guitars and the way that it expands and lulls you in throughout its duration.
The back part of the album is dominated by ‘The Way In The Seas and Sand’ parts 1, 2 and 3, three tracks that, while separated at times on the track list, form together to create another atmospheric odyssey that builds and swells over time and making for compelling listening, further showcasing the sheer ambition and scope of the band’s sound. A lot is made of this ambition in this review, but the ways that the band are happy to stray from the confines of the genre and the conformities of modern music is what makes it feel so special and distinctive.
All in all, Wanderlust is an album that feels as introspective and adventurous sonically as it is narratively, happy to journey along a wide spectrum of sounds and ideas in a way that feels intoxicating and flowing throughout. The band have a distinctive style and approach that they are more than happy to lean into and create work that feels entirely their own, and this makes for a plethora of unique moments and ideas that feel quite unlike anything else.
