Over the last few months, I have watched as High Wycombe-based outfit Only Sun move from strength to strength. So after a number of vibrant previews in recent months, they have now returned to deliver their blistering debut album 'Tangled Mind', a record that doubles down on the reputation they have gathered already. As an integral part of the UK’s live music scene since 2017, Only Sun are really showing off their talent with this debut. ‘Tangled Mind’ sees them take their indie rock influences from the early noughties and inject it with their own playful attitude. Usually when we come across a band looking to reinvigorate the noughties indie-rock sound, it usually comes across as more of a damp squib than anything likely to break through. But in the case of 'Tangled Mind', it is clear that Only Sun are simply envisioning a new and diverse direction to take that formative sound in. ‘Tangled Mind’ sonically draws on classic indie foundations but putting their own definitive spin on things, the four piece craft affecting, emotive cuts built for festival singalongs.
Speaking about the album, Only Sun said: “Tangled mind is an album built around the concept of mental wellbeing. Written over the course of a pretty eclectic year of our mental health, it tracks the subject through swings of dark paranoia and self-doubt, through to pure bliss, hope and trust. Originally, the album was to be ordered from darker concepts through to light, however it was later decided that to replicate the human mind accurately the concepts should be random and unpredictable. Individually, the songs represent a snapshot of real life and propose an honest account of the effects that this has on a confused, flawed mind. Together, the songs merge to form the beautiful yet flawed bouquet of a tangled mind.”
With some brilliantly impressive production ideas, matched up effortlessly with their own catchy song writing, this debut full-length is a rare and captivating statement from the group, cementing their stake that indie-rock can still stand on its own without pandering too much to the commercial scene. In all, 'Tangled Mind' is a strong and confident opening gambit for a band that seems to already have a bright future lined up in front of them. It has just enough nostalgic appeal to grab the older fans, but also a fresh and diverse intention that suits a contemporary vibe, something we don't hear very often.