Though ‘Spirit If…’ is ostensibly a Kevin Drew record, it stays firmly on B.S.S. territory. The influence of Spearin and Benchetrit (who guest on many of the tracks) is explicit, though never over-whelming, especially on ‘Safety Bricks’ and ‘Farewell to the Pressure Kids’. The romantic highlight- ‘Gang Bang Suicide’- sounds like a step-by-step template for a B.S.S. ballad- ‘Anthems for a Seventeen Year Old Girl’- by numbers- a breathy intro, climbing bass and soothing glitches before culminating in a lush forest of sound and sentiment, leaving the audience heart-struck and melancholy. However, without the constraints of B.S.S., (though one can’t imagine them being a particularly constrictive bunch), Drew draws on a broader spectrum of sounds- such as late Pixies (‘Backed Out on the Cause’) or Cornelius-like electronica (‘Big Love’) to flesh out his almost-solo effort. The ensuing sonic effect makes up for the lack of cohesiveness in the tempo, which careers from ambient to an Animal Collective-esque canter. Drew’s lyrics remain as elusive and subversive as ever, and the album showcases Drew’s favoured topics of ‘fucking, fighting, fearing and hope’. There are echoes of Springsteen, and of yearning, as Drew emotes in ‘Lucky Ones’- ‘When the crying separated in comes the sun/Heard it through a song that a girl once sung/She’s the reason why I’m trying to make it alright/Trying to drive through girl, wish it tonight’. In short, ‘Spirit If…’ sticks to its roots, whilst exploring new ground at the same time, allowing for a comforting, yet stimulating aural experience.

Ailbhe Malone is 21 years old. Her father told her the other day that she was 'going to change the world'. She remains sceptical.
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