Swim School

SWIM SCHOOL have finally released their eagerly awaited debut album.

They may have formed in 2018, but the Scottish stars took their time carefully crafting an album that represents everything they stand for — and by god, have they delivered.

‘Heaven’, the opening track, features a heavy, fast-paced guitar juxtaposed with a sweet, sultry, butter-wouldn’t-melt voice and somehow, it just works. The lyrics are equally as beautiful as the vocals: “Hold my breath / Drown in your lies.” The imagery created with just these words is immense.

This song suggests a strong influence from Wolf Alice in their early, golden years, and Alice’s voice feels like the love child of Ellie Rowsell yet she offers her own unique take, setting the band apart from their competition.

‘Green Eyes (Want It All)’ delivers a mixture of sharp, cutting guitar paired with a rumbling bass that builds the track’s intensity right until the last second. ‘Alone With You’ offers lyrics of deep desire and affection, a pleading love song.

The track ‘Waste Your Time’ demonstrates the band’s sheer instrumental talent, with building sections that piece together and flow, while ‘On & On’ showcases Alice’s impressive vocal range.

‘Say It All’ is beautiful, elegant, and tasteful. It feels like part two of the love story narrated in ‘Alone With You’.

This album is a no-skip record, each track as strong as the next. As debut albums go, this one is a faultless and perfect delivery. An example of how powerful a first album can and should be.

Swim School are set to go on tour, starting tonight in Newcastle and finishing in Paris on the 28th of November.

I, for one, cannot wait to hear this live.