Album Review: Saskwatch - Sorry I Let It Come Between Us

Saskwatch’s third album deals fans with something of a surprise change of direction.

This album starts to leave behind the ‘60s retro soul and funk strut of their previous work to embrace groovy pop vibes. The gloriously fuzzed-out I’ll Be Fine works up a sweat over a buoyant groove that takes inspiration from ‘60s pop confection as it began to contend with the hallucinatory effects of nascent psychedelia. Down The Stairs vibrantly twists under the influence of swinging Yé-Yé pop to feel-good effect. Losing four members earlier this year sees Saskwatch without their horn section and the players who helped them deal those swinging rhythms. Still, glorious horns add radiant flourishes to increasingly straightforward band based arrangements, so it would seem they left after this album was recorded. Nkechi Anele sounding powerful as all hell quickly slips into heartbreak and bittersweet introspection across much of this album.

The album starts with wistful tunes like In Your Arms and Spitting Image that ache with a certain lovesickness. Time To Let You Go skips to a brisk beat but Anele reflects on how she’s moved on from love at first sight. It’s the pop hooks that engage listeners as Anele deals her rather heartbreaking lyrics. The album winds down from here to the desolate stripped-back title track, which is an emotional break-up song that lovingly reflects on a relationship as it disintegrates. Shaking it up, Saskwatch have evolved to offer us something wonderfully different.