Released on 11th April on Blowtorch Records, Belfast band Virgins are back with their debut album ‘nothing hurt and everything was beautiful’. Following their fabulous 2022 EP ‘Transmit a Little Heaven’ wasn’t going to be easy (I was a very big fan) but the band have clearly been out plying their trade and honing a sound to delight their growing army of fans.
‘softer’ opens the album like an alarm. Wake up folks, there is new music out there to inspire, honestly there is. It sounds fresh and urgent, maximising the play off between strong instrumentation from Michael Smyth, Dave Sloan, Mo’ O’Kane and Matt McMullan and the soaring vocals of Rebecca Dow.
‘slowly, long’ assures us that we are in safe hands here, and there is a new danceability to enjoy in ‘close’.
‘disappearer’ is the track recommended for radio play and sounds a bit like a dream collab between Cyndi Lauper and The Cure. ‘adore’ gives us a slightly more laid back 90’s Radiohead vibe, and ‘sunspots’ hits that spot when you just want to hear massive, melodic guitars.
The album closes with ‘tend’, an epic 6 minutes and 37 seconds of dreamy balm to end this Virgins trip. There is plenty of Hole influence here too and I’m a happy girl.
The band describe this latest offering as ‘tracks that blur nostalgia with contemporary and future sounds‘. I couldn’t agree more. ‘Thematically the record moves between sex and love, romanticism, the need to escape and loss all draped over an immersive sonic tapestry.’ Sold!
The limited edition vinyl has been purchased and when it arrives I’ll be playing it loud : )
Virgins will play two album launch parties on April 26th, Dublin – Sin E and April 27th, Belfast – Deers Head
Keep in touch with the band on Instagram / Facebook / YouTube / Twitter / Bandcamp
Review by Breige Cobane
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