Circa Waves - What's It Like Over There? (LP)

Circa Waves hit a fascinating gear shift on their third album, What’s It Like Over There?, released on 5 April 2019 via Prolifica Inc. and PIAS. The Liverpool crew had already proven they could bash out brisk indie anthems, but here they loosen the grip on wiry guitars and lean into piano, rich harmonies and a pop shimmer that suits them better than you might expect. It still sounds like Circa Waves. It just moves with a different kind of confidence, the sort that comes from a band deciding to write songs first and worry about genre later.

Movies sets the tone straight away, and it’s a smart opening salvo. The piano figure is simple and sturdy, the melody sticks to your ribs, and Kieran Shudall sings with a clarity that feels newly front-and-centre. The guitars don’t disappear, they just play a more supportive role, colouring the edges rather than crowding the frame. It’s a neat balance of their early rush and their pop instincts, which feel more honest than a lot of bands’ mid-career makeovers.

Be Somebody Good keeps that thread, riding a loping groove and a chorus that feels built for big rooms. You can hear how the rhythm section carries this record. Sam Rourke’s bass lines are unfussy but melodic, and Colin Jones locks the drums to the piano in a way that pushes the songs forward without turning them into glossy mush. When the guitars do step out, Joe Falconer favours bright, chiming lines that echo late-night radio rather than sweaty club thrash. It suits the writing, which often steers toward bittersweet rather than brawl.

Times Won’t Change Me is the moment that announces the band’s broader palette. Piano leads again, but the lift comes from stacked vocals that brush against gospel without tipping into pastiche. It’s proof that Shudall can carry a song without leaning on the usual indie urgency. Me, Myself and Hollywood, by contrast, plays like a postcard from a restless tour bus window, all glittering guitars and a homesick hook. None of this feels stitched together from trend boards. It’s tight and considered, but it breathes.

What’s striking is how often the record prioritises feel over fireworks. The structures are clean, the choruses are tidy, and the bridges rarely overstay their welcome. That restraint pays off on vinyl, where space and separation matter. Spin the What’s It Like Over There? vinyl and the piano shines through on side A while the drums sit warm and present, then the back half settles into that late evening mood Circa Waves wear surprisingly well. If you’re hunting Circa Waves vinyl for the shelf, this one ends up being a grower that rewards front-to-back listens rather than a dip-in-for-the-singles situation.

There’s a lineage here too. Liverpool bands often get measured against history they didn’t ask for, but Circa Waves sidestep the heritage trap by chasing songs that feel contemporary without chasing paint-by-numbers pop. They still write festival-ready choruses, they just sound less hemmed in by the four-lads-with-guitars tag. Movies quickly became a fan favourite for good reason, a set opener that translates its studio polish into a communal singalong. That trick is harder than it looks.

The production keeps everything crisp but not clinical. Vocals are intelligible, and the low end has enough chew to keep the hooks grounded. There’s a touch of studio sheen that nods at pop radio, though the band never lets that polish sand off their character. It feels like a conscious pivot rather than a label note, which matters for a rock band with a loyal following. You can hear that belief in the writing, and it gives the album a thread that ties the piano-led moments to the more familiar guitar rush.

If you’re crate-digging in a Melbourne record store or surfing vinyl records Australia late at night, What’s It Like Over There? is the Circa Waves album that broadens the picture without breaking it. It’s the one to cue up when you want hooks with a little emotional aftertaste, and it sits nicely next to their earlier singles on a weekend spin. To buy Circa Waves records online, you’ll find plenty of options, but this pressing earns its place. Collectors looking for Circa Waves albums on vinyl should start here, and anyone searching specifically for What’s It Like Over There? vinyl will be rewarded with a record that plays to the band’s strengths while hinting at where they’d head next.