SCRAN – Living Room (13th Floor Album Review)
Tāmaki Makaurau five-piece post-punk band SCRAN follow up their stunning 2024 debut EP To Your Heart’s Content with their debut album Living Room.
Formed in 2022, the band have developed a sound drawing on influences as diverse as Jimi Hendrix and Joy Division, led by singer-songwriter Lewis Yeats and guitarist/backing vocalist Oscar Davies-Kay. Despite far fewer live performances than they (we) deserved, SCRAN consistently wowed audiences.
On this second effort, years of playing together have seen their sound evolve and refine. The band stretch their previously narrow post-punk framework by incorporating pop sensibilities, gothic mire, and tentative krautrock rhythms. Living Room was preceded by two singles: Verge, notable for its ephemeral use of keys — largely absent or mixed subtly in earlier releases — and Pride, a hook-heavy, guitar- and bass-driven track that builds to a catchy crescendo.
From the album’s opening track Creator, SCRAN sound safe and assured, with songs reminiscent of To Your Heart’s Content. It’s comforting, but perhaps intentionally so. Two Breath, which follows, signals a shift — symptomatic of Verge and Pride, the hooks move firmly to the foreground. Bulls leaps out with a southern-gothic punk guitar tone, but up until Verge there is a noticeable sense of restraint, even safety, in the sequencing.
Then everything opens up.
The final three tracks redefine the album. Led by the clear standout Cry — a crooning, gothic-country racer — ears prick up and joy rises. Pride returns in support with its hook-laden rhythms, before the record closes on Made Of, a slow-paced, tear-jerking ballad steeped in southern gothicism, etching itself deeply into the listener’s consciousness.
Sadly, there will be no third body of mahi. SCRAN are disbanding after their final show on December 20 at the T & M Christmas Extravaganza. A genuine tragedy — one can only imagine what further delights might have been in store. Actually we may be able to, as out of the ashes has come a new act – Porcelain, made up of Lewis, Oscar and others.
Simon Coffey
Living Room is out now.
