London duo Dead Orchards are back with This Was Always Yours, their fourth album and it continues the path they’ve been exploring over the past few years. Simon Adams and Bobby Faghihi started out as a lo-fi acoustic project but their music has gradually moved toward something more electronic and synth-driven. This album still carries that slightly murky, emotional atmosphere they’re known for, but it also experiments with different moods from track to track.
The album opens with “Welcome”, a tiny 28-second intro that does exactly what the title suggests. It’s a short electronica piece that sets the tone before the proper songs begin. Next comes “What Will Tomorrow Hold?”, which was quite surprising. Instead of synths, the track is led by piano and stays very calm and quiet throughout. It has a reflective mood, though personally I found it a little repetitive.
Things pick up again with “The Past Is Over”. The synths return and the song immediately feels bigger. There are lots of layers both in the instrumentation and in the vocals and it’s the kind of track that would probably make even more sense in a live setting. “Low Sun” is one of the most beautiful moments on the album. The little “ah ah ah” harmonies at the beginning blend softly with the music, creating something almost dreamlike. The vocals sound distant, almost like a whisper floating through the track.
Then comes “Everything Without”, which quickly became my favourite. The drums grab your attention right away and the whole song has a really catchy synth-pop energy. The background “oh oh” harmonies after the hook add a lot of depth. My only complaint is that the instrumental ending could have lasted longer because it sounds great.
“Sweet Water” appears right in the middle but only lasts about a minute and a half. It’s pleasant but too short as part of the album.
“Something Real” starts with a great electro-pop rock vibe that instantly got me moving my head. The synths are still there but the vocals sound less processed this time, which gives the song a slightly different feel compared to the more hazy tracks.
The album finishes with “Every Goodbye”. The title makes sense as a closing track and it wraps things up in a reflective way, although for me it runs a bit longer than needed.
Overall, This Was Always Yours is an interesting listen because every song goes in a slightly different direction. Tracks like “Low Sun”, “Everything Without” and “Something Real” really stand out and show just how well Dead Orchards mix dreamy sounds with stronger electronic moments.
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