Stats -- Powys 1999: Review

Stats -- Powys 1999

[Memphis]

British New Wave revivalists Stats come through on their sophomore record with an extension into their sound that comes off as both nostalgic and futuristic. The album harnesses the energy of 70s art rock legends Bowie and Elton but cuts with a younger edge of EDM synths and driving techno beats.

Despite the heavy 70s art rock influences, singer and frontman Ed Seed doesn’t like to think of it as nostalgic. In an interview with New Musical Express, Seed said of the album “It’s not nostalgic”, elaborating more about the soul of the record: “It’s about the past but also the future. Living another way doesn’t seem so possible now for technological and financial reasons – and I was seeking inspiration from the people I knew who tried to do that.”

The album’s namesake originates from Seed’s hometown--Powys, Wales--which provided much inspiration to the album. Seed and the producer Tom Andrews brought all of the band members out to the small city to understand more of Seed’s vision for the record. Seed told Songwriter:

“It’s in the middle of nowhere on the side of a mountain. I knew I wanted to make a record about back home. I was thinking about people like my mom and dad who went to live there in the ‘70s and ‘80s—lots of people were there already, trying to live in a slightly alternative way, a way outside the mainstream.”

So, Powys 1999 was on track to be Seed’s homecoming opus, injected with emotions and remnants of his own past. And Powys 1999 comes through on the nostalgic storytelling but does fall short on execution in parts.

While Seed and company are getting lost in edm big beats and the shimmering dancey synths, they forget to shake things up enough. Songs like “The Truth is Naked”, “Out Of Body”, and even one of my favorites “Kiss Me Like It’s Over” get stuck in an EDM limbo where same driving song structure and drum pattern gets old the third time around.

Also, while Seed’s vocals are a nice guide through the instrumentals of Powys 1999, the lack of depth in his lyrics fail to maintain interest throughout the whole project. The lyrics on the aforementioned “The Truth is Naked” and “Travel With Me…” land a little too short and don’t get compensated by the beats that bring the listener back to the songs for much either.

However, I think there are still moments here where the combination of Seed’s 70s british bravado and the EDM beats make some keepers. The opener “Come With Me” immediately blasts the listener into this shimmering, bohemian techno world with these enormous warbling synths that perfectly edge between too tacky or too understated. The highs and lows of this song channel the dark intriguing world that Seed teases to all album and is definitely a stand-out

The longest song “Kiss Me Like It’s Over” is exhilarating and, when forgetting the monotony of some of the beats on the second half, holds up on its own quite well. The leading single “Naturalise Me” probably has the tightest production on the LP and plays between various different vocal lines to stay energetic and bouncy.

My favorite “Old Flames” rocks with glam pop grooves in its pianos and its groovy slow drums. Each aspect of the song from the harmony vocals, the rumbling bass synths, and the chittering percussion showcase an appreciation of over 50 years of pop music, from the Supremes to Ziggy Stardust to Taylor Swift. The tight song structure and catchy melodies make “Old Flames” the one I keep coming back to.

Stats come through on their sophomore record Powys 1999 with a deep dive into Seed’s warped nostalgic world that binds together doo-wop hooks and EDM synths into a fun romp in 70s art rock.

3.5/5

Listen To: David Bowie, Andy Shauf

RIYL:"Come With Me", "Old Flames"