ALBUM REVIEW: Jumpstart Hope – InMe
It’s bizarre to think that INME have now been a part of the alt rock landscape in four separate decades since their formation in 1996, but as they edge ever close to their 25th year as a band, there are absolutely no signs of them slowing down. Sure, they’re not as prominent as they once were but the quality of their music and their delight in playing anywhere and everywhere has continued to win over fans in all corners of the world. Friday saw the release of seventh studio album Jumpstart Hope, their first on Killing Moon Records and thus ending a wait of five years between records, the longest timespan to date.
For those who were privy enough to see any of the shows on their short UK towards the end of last year, a special ‘tour’ edition of Jumpstart Hope was provided at the gigs which contained five of the ten tracks present on the full record. Naturally therefore, there will be those out there who will welcome these tracks like old friends and take a more in depth look at the other half on offering, but of course not everyone will have bought them.
In any event, INME have once more encompassed, more or less, the whole sphere of alt rock music within the space of forty minutes. The five tracks already release have a number of different merits, from the infectious choruses on Blood Orange Lake and For Something to Happen, the ambient and expansive soundscape on The Leopard and the jaunty, bouncy tempo served up by Rogue Waves. Elsewhere, the riffs that welcome I Swear and Alone are good excuses for a head bop; INME have even managed to throw a style-appropriate breakdown into the former. There’s also the sprawling Clear History that moves gracefully and serenely through its tenure and the big ending in Shame, which arguably could have had even more impact if it wasn’t at the very end of proceedings.
For all the different styles, there is one thing that ties every song on Jumpstart Hope together, and that’s the weight and melancholy of the lyrics and delivery from vocalist Dave McPherson. A lot of the album talks about his experiences and ongoing battle with his mental health, something that has on a few occasions driven him to heavy drinking. It can be difficult at times to listen as he contorts his voice into frail anguish and pain, as if he’s about to burst into tears any second in the middle of the song, particularly on Alone and the acoustic-driven Ancestry. The only constant member of the band since its inception, he’s spoken a lot in recent times about how this album is the most collaborative between the current lineup and it seems that the easing of pressure from his shoulders has allowed him to be more expressive within his own delivery. The result is a hard hitting affair that will take a few listens to fully digest, but – as with a lot of records – will allow for a richer experience once fully absorbed.
It’s clear that INME are enjoying themselves and they’ve earned the right to do so. If they are to be believed, this current lineup and way of writing songs could lead to a significant resurgence further down the line as they continue to gel. Jumpstart Hope, therefore, isn’t so much an album title as an ambition, to bring themselves back to where they once were. As far as beginnings go, this isn’t one to be brushed aside.
Rating: 7/10
Jumpstart Hope is out now Killing Moon Records.
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