[10/10]
Virginia Beach-based four-piece Turnover recently released their second full-length album entitled Peripheral Vision on Run For Cover Records. Will Yip, who has worked with such acclaimed bands as Circa Survive and The Wonder Years, produced the album. It has been just over two years since the band released their first LP, Magnolia and less than a year since their three-track EP Blue Dream. Blue Dream had incorporated some acoustic elements while maintaining the heavier sound of Magnolia, leaving fans wondering which direction Turnover’s music would take next.
The album’s opening track, ‘Cutting My Fingers Off,’ is audibly a clear departure from the band’s previous releases. The song, which was released as the first single ahead of the album, starts off quietly with just vocals and minimal guitars before launching into the upbeat and soaring melody. The next track, ‘New Scream,’ contrasts a dark, bell-like guitar melody with clear vocals. ‘Humming’ is an upbeat love song in which frontman Austin Getz glorifies dependence: “I want to run and hide with you tonight / I know that I can make it out / With you I know I’ll make it out alive.” One of the highlights of the album, ‘Take My Head’ starts off with dancey drumbeats before launching into a seasick, droning bridge. Next comes the slow and introspective instrumental track ‘Threshold,’ which helps build the mood as the album moves toward its close. The album comes to an outstanding close with ‘Intrapersonal.’ The song features a driving melody and the lyrics of which the album name comes from: “I can see you beside me in my peripheral vision / always right there, always aware of this manic depressive condition.”
Overall, the album could best be described as shoegaze beach pop with psychedelic influences. Compared to Magnolia, Peripheral Vision shows Turnover as having moved away from their more garage style sound. The new musical direction is well suited to Austin Getz’s light and echoey vocals. Unlike many shoegaze and psychedelic albums, the lyrics on Peripheral Vision actually make logical sense. Lyrically, the album covers a wide range of topics from loneliness and mental disorders to worrying about meeting a boyfriend/girlfriend’s family for the first time. Though the album is undeniably different than the band’s earlier releases, it has enough similarities in style that it should not alienate existing fans. In fact, Peripheral Vision seems like a natural progression from Magnolia, if one ignores Blue Dream. Hopefully Peripheral Vision will help catapult Turnover into the success they deserve. Regardless, the album will definitely be the perfect album for summer 2015.
Turnover will be touring around America at the end of the month with Fireworks, Weatherbox, Dry Jacket and Sorority Noise. Peripheral Vision is available digitally on iTunes and Bandcamp or physically from the Run For Cover webstore.
