Talking Horses’ brand new album I Will Work Harder is named as a nod to George Orwell’s tragically determined cart-horse Boxer in the novel Animal Farm, making for extremely interesting listening indeed! If you’ve kept up with the band’s string of captivating singles recently, or you’re just a fan of the underground indie-rock scene, then their new full-length is well worth a listen!
By Jane Howkins
Spanning nine tracks in total, this album is a sprawling exploration about modern themes like burnout, resilience, personal sacrifice and the feeling of quiet resolve that keeps you pushing onwards, even when the deck feels massively stacked against you. In terms of the music on offer here, Talking Horses marry a sense of raw alt-rock grit with sprawling indie-pop hooks and some amazing melodies, making I Will Work Harder a rallying cry for anyone currently struggling with the daily grind.
Opening the album up on an anthemic high note is Paradise, a song that simply explodes with shimmering guitar riffs and a pulsing bassline. It also sets up a clever thematic juxtaposition, containing lyrical longings for escape and rest, set nicely against a driving rock rhythm that should immediately grab your attention from the moment it kicks in. One Last Time keeps the momentum rolling with a punchy and rhythmic urgency, using the brass section in lovely style to add something a little extra special into the mix, alongside the infectious vocal hook.
Nothing Left to Give slows the pace down to reveal the band’s vulnerable core, acting as an early emotional standout tune for me. Melodramatic brass swells and intricate guitar lines weave around a most heartfelt vocal performance, articulating the sheer exhaustion of emotional burnout with striking clarity. Over & Over has more of a straight-up indie-rock vibe to it, although the guitar does take on a ska-style at times in the verses. It’s pretty darn catchy all the same, and the guitar solo towards the end shows that this is one band with a real rock and roll attitude, sure to blow all their peers away with the talent on offer here.
Next up we have the introspective number Who Stole the Sky?, which is perhaps the poppiest tune on I Will Work Harder. It’s actually quite a pretty sounding piece of music at times, building up towards the cathartic chorus that is the defining moment of this reflective song. These Days is another energetic rocker, picking up the energy with a driving beat and crisp-sounding infectious guitar riffs. It’s a delightful slice of life that offers honest lyricism with a series of bright and memorable hooks, making for another highlight that will stay stuck in your head for hours to come.
Dreams shifts things a little, seeing Talking Horses diving into the world of atmospheric alt-rock music. There’s some interesting percussion elements going on here (such as the soft synth pads used), and the horns mix nicely with the vulnerable vocals to create the sort of anthemic sound that seems to characterise this band’s music so well. Sunday Morning mixes things up again, adding an intimate, stripped-back warmth to the middle of the record as the track opens itself up with a lovely fingerpicked guitar melody. Gentle acoustic strums and subtle ambient layers invoke the quiet, contemplative solitude of a late weekend morning. It’s one of the softest songs on the record (this isn’t a criticism though, it’s truly a nice song), serving as a delicate emotional breather before the album’s powerful climax is unleashed in the form of Falter.
Falter is a raw and emotionally charged finale to I Will Work Harder, driven by the steady bassline and the beautiful melodies on offer here. Lyrically, the song sees the band directly confronting feelings of fear, uncertainty and self-doubt head on. Halfway through, the music starts to build up again, turning into an expansive and uplifting wall of sound, showing that it’s always better to try and fail, than to never try at all. Such a positive message is a lovely way to end this record, leaving the listener with a sense of catharsis once the entire album has been played through.
With I Will Work Harder, Talking Horses have delivered an ambitious and deeply relatable indie-rock record that transforms life’s everyday pressures into exhilarating musical energy. Blending fiery guitar licks, sweeping choruses and deeply honest lyricism, the band have managed to turn sheer graft and raw emotion into a profoundly cathartic payoff for all.
I Will Work Harder is an incredibly impressive body of work from a band operating at the height of their creative power – here’s hoping it solidifies Talking Horses as one of the most exciting acts to watch on the indie scene this year!
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