I will not deny, I have been waiting for this album to come out for a very long time. And finally it is here! As a massive fan of False Heads for nearly two years, being able to hold their debut album in my hands, feels truly special. It is titled “It’s All There But You’re Dreaming” (can we stop for a second to admire what a great title it is?) and it was released by Lovers Music Ltd. The album is available on a CD, in a digital version and on a silver vinyl. Please do yourself a favour and get the vinyl release if you can – it is a thing of an absolute beauty in the shades of steely grey, with sleek design and photographs taken by Neil Mcarty.
There are 12 tracks on the album, six on each side. Some songs are brand new (“Rabbit Hole”, “Steady On your Knees”), some are making an appearance after being released earlier (“Slew”, “Comfort Consumption”, “Twenty Nothing”) but they come with polished, re-arranged versions which will delight older fans. I have to say, the selection of songs that made the final cut is cleverly laid out. The album incorporates older compositions with those never heard before, giving the listener a chance to look broadly at the band’s entire career so far – from their inception nearly five years ago to the current moment.
I may be the only one to notice this, but the theme of sleeping or dreaming returns in many songs throughout the album. The opening number “Whatever You Please” sounds a bit like a lullaby – a slow descend into a weary dream that quickly turns into a scratchy, surreal nightmare. Each song is like a vignette, a small doorway into some sort of a twisted, absurd reality that somehow feels like real life. Or maybe it is the real thing after all? It’s hard to guess.
Musically, it’s classic False Heads that I fell in love with many moons ago. A mixture of classic punk, garage and grunge. There is a lot of American alternative rock in it too, especially in “Rabbit Hole” and “Come At The King”. The rhythm section hits hard and heavy in the best tradition of the early Seattle bands such as Green River and Mudhoney. If you close your eyes and let the music take you, you’d find yourself at the Music Bank circa 1985, only to be taken back to the modern times by Luke’s voice, waking you from your slumber with his East London accent.
Despite its raspiness, “It’s All There But You’re Dreaming” is surprisingly full of radio friendly songs. “Sleaze”, “Fall Around”, “Rabbit Hole and “Help Yourself” could do very well as stand alone singles. They are also receiving well deserved plays on the BBC6 Music and Radio X.
False Heads’ debut album is a stunning record. One of the best 2020 has offered us so far and it should be a part of every music lover’s collection. If the unpredictable situation allows it, the London trio will bring their energetic live show to Birmingham at the The Castle & Falcon on 26th of March. If they do come, please go and see them. You will be blown away. The band never disappoints.