ALBUM REVIEW: “Ternion” by We Have Band
We Have Band
Ternion
[Naive Records]
Although Ternion is only the sophomore release from UK trio We Have Band, it proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that they are not just a flash in the pan. By continuing to shirk the pressures associated with signing to a label, indie or major, they are able to have total creative freedom. This freedom rings clearly throughout each of the ten tracks on the album.
Maturing from their previous disco-esque pop sound, Ternion features beautifully eerie, yet equally as catchy songs. Every track exhibits a whirring fluidity, punctuated by the lingering vocals of Dede Wegg-Prosser, particularly on tracks “Afterall” and “Watertight.”
“Where Are Your People,” the album’s first single kicks in with a low bass line and percussive beat that immediately demands your attention. Darren Bancroft and Dede’s vocals play off each other in a chilling echo. On the equally stellar track “What’s Mine, What’s Yours” portrays a softer side of the group’s sound without becoming lackluster or overly saccharine.
While their previous release drew criticisms that the band seemed like a cheap rip-off of groups like Bloc Party and the Rapture, Ternion proves those critics wrong. Since that 2010 release, the band has grown immensely, both as songwriters and musicians.