For their fourth full-length album Excuse Me While I Vanish, Cornish alternative rock trio William The Conqueror found inspiration in new insights gained during the pandemic, leading to ten beautiful songs about compassion for the real-life angels of the world. William The Conqueror is no longer a selfish undertaking: “It’s the end of the line, and no wonder I never knew // Got that gold bayonet handed down by a saint to you // Well forgive me for thinking it was mine to take from you // Blind, now I see” (from opening track The Puppet and the Puppeteer). Ruarri Joseph (vocals, guitars), Naomi Holmes (bass) and Harry Harding (drums) rise above themselves on this record – the poetic and imagery lyrics are fab and the accurately structured music is spellbinding – if Robbie Robertson had been influenced by The War On Drugs and The National he would have sounded something like this. You get 45 minutes of mesmeric indie rock interspersed with folk and blues influences, which once again shows that selflessness pays off: “You can save your praise // For somebody else” (from Somebody Else).
Excuse Me While I Vanish, produced by the band in a playground of vintage gear and mixed by Barny Barnicott, is out now digitally, on CD and vinyl LP through Chrysalis.
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