Elephant – 'A Better Me': Rock vibe, excellent sound

Kicking off their recording career are Elephant with their first full length album. The record "A Better Me" was released on the 1^st  of July, on all the band's digital platforms, and a vinyl release is expected in the near future. The production, mixing and mastering of the record were done by Elephant at their own studio in Ioannina, while the artwork was created by Katerina Kourou (Facebook, Instagram).

Creation born out of musical searching!

The Elephant have existed as a band since 2018. They came together on one of many afternoons in a studio in Ioannina. Somewhere in the middle of conversations about music, creation, and ways to exist while staying true to their dreams. Since then they've kept those conversations alive, enriching them and shaping the musical backdrop that this friction provides them. Musically they love to experiment and, in general, they try to use whatever idea comes their way. They themselves don't describe their style as alternative rock, though their sound carries plenty of punk, post-punk and post-rock elements.

On the music

Their first full-length album is the best way for them to introduce themselves. Through these seven compositions, their sound shows a distinct character, built on plenty of jam sessions and experimentation. The Elephant clearly have a special love for this way of working. It's something that helps them express every facet of their compositional skill and imagination. The result, then, comes across as quite atmospheric, offering the listener sounds and melodies that are often stronger than the lyrics.

The tracks on 'A Better Me' have a wonderful flow. Even though they're packed with plenty of melodies and multiple musical layers, they stay fresh and never wear you down over the course of the listen. The sonic characteristics of Elephant are the recurring riffs, which build up gradually in each track, as well as the use of effects (such as reverb and delay), which give the sound some heft.

Editor's Choice: 'Last Day In Future'

The 'Last Day In Future' is one of the tracks that managed to stand out to Λαγωνικού's ears! First off, the main riff in the intro, beefed up with the addition of delay, gives the track a kind of signature. It could easily pass for a piece of a U2 song. But the track doesn't lose its rock character, something underlined by the melody found in the bridge (around 2:57), which seems to give the track a whole different texture. Well worth enjoying! Honorable mention, definitely goes to 'Story Of An Elephant‘.

Tracklist:

1) Post Punk Gray

2) Breathe

3) A Better Me

4) Acting in the Dressing Room

5) Give Me Time

6) Last Day in Future

7) Story of an Elephant

In conclusion

The 'A Better Me' is a record with a lot of interesting elements. A record that will have you listening to it again and again. An album that puts Elephant on the musical map and makes all of us music lovers eager for what comes next. Listening to it, I can't help but picture a possible live show of theirs (as I write this, I haven't managed to catch them live yet). Lights moving in all directions, sounds spreading out, and a unique psychedelia that just hooks you! I'm already looking forward to being in the crowd and enjoying it along with all their compositions…