You Me At Six – VI

You Me At Six release their sixth studio album VI, a record that forces you to forget everything you ever thought about the Surrey band and see them in a brand new light

Album Review by Harriet Willis | 04 Oct 2018
Album title: VI
Artist: You Me At Six
Label: Underdog Records / AWAL
Release date: 5 Oct

You Me At Six have been consistent in their music over the past decade; each album progressing, showing maturity in themselves and their music, they truly have rolled with the times making albums that maintain a You Me At Six sound whilst adapting to what people are into. It is music for the people.

Singles, 3AM and I O U show this shiny side to You Me At Six with catchy beats and lyrics combined with idyllic vocal inflections making it ridiculously difficult to not sing along. These two along with their latest single, Back Again, show their ability to adapt and evolve. Named as Annie Mac’s Hottest Record on BBC Radio 1, Back Again opens with twinkly guitars as opposed to their expected heavy rock riffs; frontman Josh Franceschi’s vocals suit their new style more than ever before – it's lighter, hopeful and fun.

On the sounds and themes to their new single Franceschi says, "Back Again is quite a departure for us sonically. We took some risks, we wanted to soundtrack people’s weekends. It’s a song, lyrically, about recovery, but not from vices. From feeling lost within yourself. Feeling back, your friends and family feeling like they got their person back from adversity."

Album opener, Fast Forward isn't too dissimilar to their previous work with their signature riffs and rock vibes however, and Pray For Me is perhaps a little too mellow, sadly slowing the album down with its consistently subtle, slight progressions that imply a big explosion that never comes.

VI is undoubtedly You Me At Six's poppiest effort yet complete with funky, melodic beats and synths along with relatable themes of relationships, feelings and late night adventures that perfectly straddles the line between pop and rock. 

Listen to: 3AM, I O U, Straight To My Head

http://www.youmeatsix.co.uk/