Read the full review on York Calling at: https://yorkcalling.co.uk/2022/10/18/album-review-widespread-haze-move/
From York Calling:
Move was tracked live, giving each of its fifteen songs a raw immediacy, and that is perhaps the thing upon which it all hangs together as it journeys through a range of genres including blues, garage rock, psychedelic and classic rock, sometimes mid-song.
Widespread Haze consists of drummer Tommy Whiteside, guitarist Matthew Campbell and bassist Kristi Rifenbark. All three contribute to the vocals, creating a rich, singalong style to their vibrant compositions. The three were collectively inspired by Elvis, and it was over one of his albums they formed the band.
In knowing that, you start to hear The King’s influences all the way through Move, as well as those that followed him – Jimi Hendrix, Kings of Leon, to name just a couple. Widespread Haze are bringing plenty to the party themselves too, starting right from the off with the humorous storytelling of Waffles.
Track two New Shoes is one of two singles released into the build up to the album release and it provides an early focal point. It’s got a walking rhythm and a soulful pop energy. It’s all so effortlessly cool.
From there the album doesn’t hold back its ambitions. One of These Daze and This & That are both super-sized psychedelic blues odysseys. Breakup Song, by contrast, is a short ballad with gravelly and mournful vocals. Cloudwalkin’ then provides quick-fire lyrical delivery in the verse and a bright and airy chorus.
Prove You Wrong and Doubt About It are a quick one-two punch of funk and sultry political classic rock before we hit the album’s title track. At over seven minutes long, it’s a reminder that you mustn’t hurry through life, nor take it too seriously.
Too Hard To Love brings a Velvet Underground-esque style of experimental rock before we reach the focal point of the last part of the album, second single release (k)no(w). A slow, hazy, heart-breaking ballad, it shows another side of of the Widespread Haze sound just as you think you’ve got a handle on it.
I have to applaud the level of ambition that has gone into this debut from Widespread Haze. There’s so much on offer in Move, and classic song writing is combined wittily with enough personality for three bands. If you like blues is a must-listen but fans of rock and, well, music in general will find a lot to love. You can listen to the whole album below.