Promising Debut
Proving that there is more to Brighton than merely a beach and a pier, Goodluck Jonathan is a five piece that like to buck the trend. Whilst they may share their name with the president of Nigeria, a fact they dispel as a mere coincidence, the band are unlike many currently vying for your attention. Mixing indie with post rock and throwing in a good chunk of social discourse, Goodluck Jonathan are far from being an easy listen, but then again, sometime the best things are worth working for.
'Bruises Disappear' gets things under way with an eerie taste of menace flowing throughout the subtle, slow introduction that appears to be in no hurry to unleash Goodluck Jonathan's full force on you until it is well and truly ready, a wait that pays off as drums crash amongst a blend of guitars and bass that adopt a drill like stance, relentlessly pounding through with contempt as the Brighton band deliver their judgement on society today. With such socially aware lyrics coursing throughout their music, it would be easy for "This Is Our Way Out" to paint a bleak, depressing picture and whilst vocally 'Stranded' may not radiate a pop like quality, the band's melodic edge ripples throughout, building momentum for a chorus that propels the track perfectly before 'Broken Heart' offloads yet more drums to stamp your feet along to but it is the soaring 'Lights Burn My Eyes' that takes "This Is Our Way Out" to another level, weaving a sense of dread and threat to both lift and scare in unison. From this Goodluck Jonathan offer up the anger fuelled anthemic 'Backs To The Wall', a call to arms chant-along that is overshadowed only by the tender beauty of 'Away From Here' in all its effortless glory.
With hints of At The Drive In colliding with yourcodecameis:Milo and touch of ...And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead, Goodluck Jonathan are far from being a straightforward rock or indie band and as such "This Is Our Way Out" takes some time to get into, once you do, you'll start to wonder why more bands haven't tried this before.