The Temperance Movement – White Bear

Home-grown British rockers the Temperance Movement are back, storming into 2016 with White Bear, and bringing along with them the nostalgic sounds of summer and foot-stomping music festival vibes.

With some clear 70s rock influences, mixed with soulful but gravelly vocals (think Reef meets The Black Keys) and some catchy new guitar riffs, the record  creates an immediate foot-tapping response. After a three-year wait between studio albums, the Temperance Movement have successfully burst back onto the scene with the all-new White Bear.

It starts off as it means to go on: loud, heavy, and with a lot to say. Its opening track, Three Bulleits, wastes no time in getting straight to the point, hooking us in. However, the album goes on a bit of a journey, ranging from boisterous and noisy tracks like Modern Massacre, Battle Lines and The Sun and Moon Roll Around Too Soon, to softer and more reflective ballad-style numbers such as I Hope I’m Not Losing My Mind and A Pleasant Peace I Feel. It feels like a healthy mix of different moods throughout, but with comfortable and slick transitions between its ups and downs. The whole album, however, continuously conjures up sentimental images of warm nights and open-air gigs in the sunshine. It is ultimately very easy to get stuck in, whatever the weather.

The band’s sound and overall vibes are not really surprising when you consider the impressive musical backgrounds of its members. Featuring the drummer from Feeder, the bassist from Jamiroquai and the guitarist from Ben’s Brother, it is clear where the Temperance Movement’s talents are derived from. Despite having a distinctly familiar general sound that is admittedly not all that original or daring, their music impresses nonetheless. The Temperance Movement have arguably made a strong comeback with White Bear this year, after a sizable gap since their self-titled 2013 album. For many fans the wait for White Bear will have been worth it.

 

Jo Rogers

White Bear is  released on 15^th January 2016, for further information visit here.  

Watch the video for White Bear here: