Balance And Composure // Album Review “The Things We Think We’re Missing”

Balance and Composure, the Pensylvannian five-piece, are back with their sophomore offering. Debut, ‘Separation’ reached critics and fans alike to much acclaim and the release of the follow up is highly anticipated. 

We took time out to listen to the new album ‘The Things We Think We’re Missing’.

Want to know what we thought out it? Click below…

‘Separation’ set the bar high for Balance and Composure and set the Doylestown quintet apart from the other bands in the scene.  ‘The Things We Think We’re Missing’ takes things up another notch and from opening to end the new album is an eclectic mix, holding down the band’s live feel. ‘Parachutes’ is a big opening song which builds and breaks down with a progressive edge. Songs such as ‘Lost Your Name’ and ‘Tiny Raindrop’ (lyrics in which the album title takes it name from) are minimal and melodic with strong percussion, whilst tracks such as the aptly named ‘Notice Me’ are louder, rockier, with an infectious punk edge including distinctive riff and twang. ‘Ella’ stands out as more discordant; at only 1 minute 29, it’s the shortest on the album; its eclectic and slow voiceless musings are somewhat of an interlude. Leading perfectly into ‘Cut Me Open’ where the slower tones of ‘Ella’ are recreated before bursting into a more aggressive and forceful large sound. ‘The Things We Think We’re Missing’ may be more mellow and less anarchic, but in doing so it is more grand and atmospheric. And most importantly none of which feels forced. The band openly admits that this record is most true to its sound and they are unreservedly confident, and with good reason too.

Tracks such as ‘Dirty Head’ are stripped back acoustic numbers dripping in melancholia. Eclectic, cathartic and emotional, ‘The Things We Think We’re Missing’ is steeped in reflection. ‘Enemy’, the final song on the album, is a lengthy, stripped back number which gradually builds and falls away.

Working with producer Will Yip (Title Fight, Circa Survive, Blacklisted) clearly suits the band; at times full and at times lacking in sounds and melody, it is what makes the album different and an accomplished follow up to their debut. Occasionally songs are a little elongated than necessary, however the album is something enjoyed at first listen and loved with the more time you spent with it. It’s refined, but still rough around the edges so the album is not too polished; at times explosive and at times deliberately softer. Its intricacies and complexities are what make it intriguing. Towering and dynamic, ‘The Things We Think We’re Missing’ is somewhat of a masterclass of how to do things for the second time in an effortless, timeless fashion. 8.5/10

'The Things We Think We’re Missing' is out now
http://balanceandcomposure.com/