REVIEW: Bones UK - Soft

The talented duo BONES UK, starring Rosie Bones as the lead singer and rhythm guitarist

and the gifted Carmen Vanderberg as the lead guitarist. After forming in Camden in 2014 they quickly took off with their unique, rough-edged, electronic pop sound. Now they have delivered 11 new exhilarating tracks on their new album ‘Soft’. This is the duo’s 3rd album as writers after having co-written 'Loud Hailer' with Jeff Beck and released their self-titled, Grammy-nominated, debut album.

The album opens with the electronic beat of ‘Bikinis’, to set the tone of the album. Rosie's passionate and captivating vocals draw you in immediately, leaving us excited for what's to come next, whilst the catchy melodic riffs that bounce throughout the song continue throughout the entirety of the album. The next song ‘Me’ starts off strong with the powerful bass, perfectly complimenting the upbeat feel to the song. These first two uplifting songs are an immaculate start, really setting the bar high for the rest of the LP. The track ‘Dopamine’ catches your attention immediately with the first lyrics in the song being “Save me from myself I think I'm going mad”. This song has a more serious sound to it, with a heavier melody and more intense riffs it has a different feel to it compared to what's come so far, and this continues into the next song 'Won't Settle'.

'Won't Settle' starts off with a heavy guitar riff that continues throughout, instantly drawing your attention and impressing the need to hear what comes next. The lyrics within the song seem to talk about the singer's romantic partners and her expectations, tying into the song title of 'Won’t Settle'. 'Knee Deep' is a slower paced track with a melancholic guitar sound which, paired with the emotive vocals over the top, bring about a particularly poignant atmosphere. This song has incredibly beautiful moments, especially with the guitar and the lyrics as they are so easy to relate to. One specific lyric that stands out is “I don't wanna be this deep, I wish I was shallow”, which certainly seems to discuss the overwhelming struggle of being so driven by your emotions that it becomes a burden to feel so deeply. The band then goes into talking about struggling with insecurities with the song ‘Perfectly Imperfect’ which is something that people all over the world can identify with. The song ends with the lyrics “I adore your perfect imperfections” repeating, which sends a wonderful message of loving others not just for their good parts, but also for the bits they themselves may not love. Your imperfections don't define you and while you may notice them, others may not.

Another topic talked about throughout this album is heartbreak and relationships. “Us” talks about the metaphoric death of a relationship. This heartbreaking track is written about the grief of a relationship. The rawness of the vocals really brings a tear to your eye in this one, so don't forget your tissues! Loneliness is also very present in this song and continues into the 8th song on the album ‘Fix Me’. While it has a happier feel compared to ‘Us’, you can recognise plenty of the same emotions in the lyrics, as she sings about finding comfort in another person in order to confront the dreaded feeling of loneliness. People can come together and help each other, and music can be a huge driver behind that. This album, especially these last few songs, feel like they could be a catalyst for more of those important conversations that people need but don't have.

“Teeth” is an exciting track with a sensual feel to it, really stepping into an area full of feminine energy. We've already reached the third-last song on the album, and even now BONES UK make you want to get up and dance. The last two songs on the album are an incredible ending to this album, the guitar in “Blood” being a real treat. You can hear so much emotion in the vocals, with the screaming really adding to this as you can hear such huge volumes of passion coming from her voice. The final song ‘What If I Died’ brings the album to a close perfectly, shedding light on a very important topic. She sings about death, asking the question, “If I died today would anything change?” This topic is incredibly important to be discussed in the music industry, encouraging listeners that they are not alone, and that they are important as a person, not just an instrument for change.

BONES UK have written an album full of relatable songs talking about heartbreak and individuality, something they have stuck with since the beginning of their career. This whole album has a real electronic rock feel to it, similar to their earlier songs but also taking it slow and changing it up for certain tracks. Every song is full of raw vocals and outstanding riffs. The duo have done an incredible job creating a sound that is unique to them, and we look forward to seeing what they will do next!

'Soft' will be released via Sumerian Records on September 13th.

Words: Kelsey Mainwaring

Photo: BONES UK