Embrace - Out of Nothing

Out of Nothing, the latest offering from UK band Embrace is the musical equivalent of a feel-good summer movie. Majestic choruses, soaring guitars and simple but hopeful sentiments such as “a light is gonna shine on you and I” unite to create an almost cinematic experience. Out of Nothing is the kind of album likely to stir hearts and cause many a sing-along. Stylistically, the band has garnered many comparisons to fellow Brits Coldplay. This is more than understandable with the Coldplay-penned “Gravity” serving as the album’s first single. However, lead singer Danny McNamara’s vocal style references Richard Ashcroft or Liam Gallagher more closely than it does Chris Martin, lending more of a rock edge to the ten songs contained here. While Mickey Dale’s keyboard playing is a definite asset, Embrace’s songs rely more heavily on guitar than those of their countrymen. Neither McNamara’s vocals nor his brother Richard’s fine guitar playing are the centerpiece of the album, however. The shining star of Out of Nothing is the musical component known as the chorus. The album’s opener, “Ashes,” boasts an epic refrain that is not soon to leave the listener’s head. Tracks like “Someday” and “Keeping” also exhibit the McNamara brothers’ impressive aptitude for writing anthems with massive hooks. The one mistake Embrace makes is in attempting to live on the peaks created by some of their catchier songs. When the band attempts to descend into the valley, as it were, and present a more subtle offering, the songs fail to deliver. Consequently, the second half of the album suffers. Track 5, “Wish ‘Em All Away,” is the lone example of a song that survives without having been constructed on a mountain top. With its creative inclusion of harmonica and gorgeous but slightly more subtle melody, it is the type of song Embrace should aim to write to give even more magnitude to their dramatic contributions. If the band can learn to effectively vary things up in this fashion, they may achieve a wonderful balance of substance and style. [www.embrace-music.com]