Treasures In The Valley is an explosive return to centre stage for The Connecting Dots

THE CONNECTING DOTS

Treasures In The Valley

Stockholm, Sweden

Credit - Therese Lundell

Treasures In The Valley is an explosive return to centre stage for The Connecting Dots. Their indie rock/euro pop blend of angst and emotions shine clear as day in this album. The band have come ever closer together and you can feel that in their music. Its detailed instrumentals and profound lyrical melodies are music enough but adding the synth wave vibes and pulsing dance drums really brings this album alive. Treasures In The Valley is honest, innovative and a right banger.

‘The Liquor On Your Lips’ sets the tone for the whole album in 20 seconds. It's amazing how the Connecting Dots have cultivated such a sound that it is instantly recognisable. The song opens with a wide synth pad that shifts and grows. Just as it reaches its peak, about to burst! A steady beat rolls in with the bass behind it, hitting every drop of feeling. The vocals soothe you as they flow from line to line, section to section. The song is catchy and loving and open, a delight. The bridge hits. It gets dark, almost thick, and the vocals’ tone shifts, a great contrast for a great song and just what it needed to feel like a true outpouring of emotion. The Connecting Dots really play with the bridge sections in their songs, it is by far the most exciting part of the tracks, knowing that when you get there, they are going to take you somewhere you could never expect.

‘Days Of Wonder’, a song that takes inspiration from flamenco, adds synth into the mix in the bridge, it shouldn’t work but it works wonders. ‘Move On’ is a song sat squarely in the dance genre, with a great beat and melody and a push that hooks you with akin to Duran Duran sounds, the bridge hits and we are treated with a wild, melodic, crunchy solo that builds with the song and melts into the electric sounds perfectly.

The band shows their variation in Treasures In The Valley, shifting sounds and styles slowly as the album progresses keeping it cohesive. Skipping ahead from the pop chords of ‘Sirens’ which envelops you in waves of slow strummed guitars, to the bass-heavy club vibe of ‘Suburban Blue’ it is clear as day how expressive The Connecting Dots can be in the spectrum of electric music.

The longest track on the album is ‘Blowing On The Ember’ but I would never describe it as long. It begins with a piano that would feel at home on a Queen album, the bass hits drawing everything into focus and we can hear The Connecting Dots playing in their prime. A song follows that is smooth, funky and lets each instrument have its moment in the light. As the end comes… it doesn’t end. The song opens up into a completely new section, mainly instrumental and The Connecting Dots show off their skills by blending acoustic sounds with bass melodies and synth pads.

Throughout the album they play with different compositions of indie-pop and rock, all the while layering over melodies and phrases that you can’t help but sway or really cut some shapes to (with the sound variety on offer you can pick your dance and own it). Treasures In The Valley is worth the listen, on the album you will uncover your own personal treasure and keep it close to your chest as a song you will remember for a long long time. Mine being ‘Days Of Wonder’, that gem is on every playlist I have, I can’t get enough of it.

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