Plastic Barricades is the indie rock project of London-based Dan Kert. He’s no stranger to this blog, having been featuring on these pages since 2019. His latest album was written and recorded during the pandemic, and explores themes of hope, doubt and living in the moment. It’s called We Stayed Indoors.
By Graeme Smith
Along with the surreal situation we all found ourselves in a couple of years ago, the ten songs on We Stayed Indoors were inspired by Death Cab For Cutie (includes its title, a homage to the band’s track We Laugh Indoors), and fans of the Seattle, USA alt-rockers will find a lot to love about this album.
Equally important to the music are the videos that accompany some of the tracks, starting right from album opener Counting Fireworks. The one-take video, created by the band’s art director Elina Pasok, proved to be an award winner, and perfectly supports the track’s vibrant and textured alternative rock structure.
For The Brave darkens the mood a little with its visceral and reflective lyrics before becoming hopeful in a triumphant chorus. Place to Hide livens things with a pacey tempo and jangly rock before Second-hand Dreams gives us an early highlight with its elevated indie rock. Soulful vocals take us to the stratosphere.
Video-wise, Plastic Barricades have made ample use of the advances in AI-generated art, giving some surreal dreamscapes to accompany the world-building of the songs’ lyrics.
Forever is Made of Nows is a collaboration with Victory Kicks and gives us a bright and optimistic wonder, encouraging the listener to seize the moment. We’re Not So Different is moody and philosophical. High Wire Balancing Act is a delicately poised moment that combines acoustic and electric instrumentals. It’s another highlight.
Lucid in the Fall invites us to reflect on our lives and desires to understand what’s really important to us. Tallest Trees is steady and smouldering before Dust of Former Lives closes the album with a track that optimises the Plastic Barricades’ motto of “hopeful songs in a hopeless world.” It’s wonderfully bittersweet, encouraging us to accept that there are things we must simply let go. It’s a final highlight.
Featuring on We Stayed Indoors are Sheffield-based drummer Chris Barber, Berlin, Germany-based singer Aellie Coto, and singer-songwriters Luke Joyce and John Sibley. Mixing was by Tom Hill at Bookhouse Studios. Andy “Hippie” Baldwin at Metropolis Studios did the mastering. You can give the album a listen below.
