Westerman – An Inbuilt Fault
Working with Big Thief's James Krivchenia, Westerman adds layers to his sound
Compared to his debut, Will Westerman's second album is a reflection of fraught times. Where Your Hero Is Not Dead and early singles embellished soft-rock's melodic sheen to coat his feathery voice, An Inbuilt Fault has sharper edges. The cracked percussion and drone of opener Give hint at this, but the album's themes reinforce the point. Idol; RE-run is more melodious but deals with the Capitol riots, while I, Catallus. meditates on toxic masculinity and A Lens Turning is trapped in a loop of existential crises. Pilot Was a Dancer sounds like The Verve with a more endearing singer but is concerned with a vague, dystopian future.
However, for the casual listener who fell in love with Westerman's smooth, easygoing vibes on excellent songs like Confirmation, there are still plenty of lovely moments. CSI: Petralona is simpler and more personal, while Help Didn't Help At All and I, Catallus. delve into yacht-rock funk without falling foul of that genre's schmaltz. An Inbuilt Fault is a natural progression in Westerman's young career – a little more austere and timidly experimental. Like a similarly quiet revolutionary Amen Dunes, Westerman is carving out his own identity beyond his influences.
Listen to: CSI: Petralona, Pilot Was a Dancer