It’s indistinct and woozy, the perfect company for laying in the grass whilst heat rises on a sunny day. The simplicity and brevity of the story telling throughout ‘GN’ marks where the band veer away from their country and Americana inspired composition, swapping the intricacies of country story-telling for honest and close to the mark accounts of real life stories.
The addition of stories outside of the bands own experiences ensures the album is a much richer experience than if the band were restrained to only their own scope. ‘Crying About The Planet’ is the tale of Douglas Mawson as he survives in Antarctica. The track is mesmerising, perfectly capturing the trudge of making it through a sub-zero climate with limited supplies, a hesitant drum beat and Julia Steiner’s whispering vocals intertwined with droning guitars complementing the story. By the time the track ends in a cacophony of grainy feedback, it really feels like a faithful retelling of Mawson’s journey through music.
From the Americana influences used alongside a DIY aesthetic and attitude, to the reoccurring themes of lost and found, Ratboys’ precision in crafting ‘GN’ can’t be ignored. Each idea and concept melts together beautifully to paint a down-to-earth depiction of the ways in which people exist. Though there aren’t any standout tracks from the album, the way each track sits comfortably beside another pushes the album into becoming just that, an album, rather than a collection of singles.
Despite remaining in dreamy vocals and washed out guitars territory for the majority of ‘GN’, Ratboys have some tricks up their sleeves to stop the album becoming monotonous. ‘Dangerous Visions’ is frantic and callous, yet still gives way to Rayboys’ consistent, hazy charm despite the friction found in the chorus, making it a pleasant change of pace, whilst ‘Peter the Wild Boy’ sees the addition of some string arrangements.
With ‘GN’ Ratboys have managed to package human experiences into an album that invites the listener into the band’s personal reverie. From loneliness to deceased pets in the freezer, the band have captured the breadth of what it means to be alive with all it’s highs and lows into this album, inviting us along on their ride.
ELOISE BULMER