It was evident from Citizen’s debut album Youth that they had an edge. “The Night I Drove Alone” contributed to a thriving music scene predicated on the same raw emotion that it captured, but there was a timelessness to it that felt special. Since then, the staggering musical talent of Citizen has become more and more apparent with each album they have released, and Halcyon Blues is no exception.
This album would in fact be a perfectly acceptable place to start for anyone who is still missing out. Opening track “Good Fortune” immediately invites you to sit next to them before they take you on an almost 40 minute immersive experience, offering refined but effortless elements of everything that makes them unique as the tracks go on. Mat Kerekes’ imaginative, alluring lyricism and soothing but commanding vocals lead the way, as the instruments journey through crowd rallying punk to atmospheric grunge rock, confident with every beat.
Every transition is smooth, and every outburst of energy is measured and inviting. “Either Way” lazily asking “how many times do we have to be hurt before we get it right?” against a steady repetitive beat evokes as much thought as “Smooth Talker” urgently demanding “are we ever gonna learn?”, there’s a unique emotional atmosphere in Citizen’s music and it is evident in every track of Halcyon Blues. Where they have leant more heavily into different aspects of their sound previously, this one brings it all together seamlessly and it’s hard to imagine fans having anything but an overwhelmingly positive reaction.
“Always the Last One to Leave” is a cinematic, melodic highlight in the album that brings in elements of Mat Kerekes’ solo work, “Is It In My Brain” teases the high energy of the band’s live performance style; and “Anne” closes the album with a signature Citizen acoustic reflection.
There is true poetry in every moment of this album, from the wintery confessional title track to punchy punk driven “Matador”, every second feels as thought about as it does fluent. Citizen have always felt like a hidden gem to me, their success is undeniable, but a feeling of intimacy remains in their music. Halcyon Blues is a triumph, an album that couldn’t have come from anybody but Citizen.
