Album Review: Glass Towers - Halcyon Days

It's been a rapid incline of sorts for Glass Towers, the young Sydney-based band who have exuded ambition at every point of their career to date. This here debut album is no exception, undoubtedly stepping the lads into not only their next phase but also an entirely new playing field as they expand themselves from the little-band-that-could to the band that can and has done.

Halcyon Days rocks in every sense of the word, but not like a British India, for example, might – the guitars are more intricate, the relentless ADD drums (a good thing) evoke Bloc Party and the yearning vocal delivery of Benjamin Hannam is flawless – all of which continues to unravel with more precision and quality after every listen, offering something more translatable across international waters.

Produced by the rapidly up-and-coming Jean Paul Fung (Last Dinosaurs, Bluejuice), the album's familiarity is intact with flawless radio single Jumanji, the soaring Tonight and provoking almost title track Halcyon all making an appearance. Elsewhere, it's the reverb-drenched Gloom and the youthful Lust For Life that help complete the puzzle perfectly. You're Better shows another side, however, slowing down the tempo and displaying Hannam's ability to truly speak from within.

Halcyon Days is a triumphant first step for a young band and one that doesn't necessarily push any envelopes and, instead, is brilliant for exactly what it is – a long-player that sits together as brilliantly as each song stands strong on its own. It's brimming with impeccable musicianship and its ambition and execution combined with a natural prowess for songwriting easily places it atop its contemporaries.