Can’t Make Any Promises
Album by Radiator Hospital
Released 25 May 2023
Indie Rock
Self-released
Rating – 6/10
Loaded with Sam Cook-Parrott’s grabby howls.
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Frontman Sam Cook-Parrott was the only member of Radiator Hospital to appear on 2019’s Sings ‘Music for Daydreaming’, comparable to the act’s early days when he was the only member full stop. Oftentimes, he has been my favourite part of the Radiator Hospital experience, with the wild, unconforming tone of his vocals – particularly on that album – echoing that of Jeff Mangum; born to be esoteric, born to rub some people the wrong way.
Those takes would spasm, not at random, but as the depth of his psyche would meet the ceiling of his somewhat-conventional pop structures. Can’t Make Any Promises returns to the full band structure, and while the textures may be richer, the spasms still have it in them to steal focus. Just check out how the unassuming chats of Sweet Punisher plunge into desperate yelps, stumbling in and out of key like a true madman.
If the album is going to appeal to one demographic first-and-foremost, it’ll be those smitten with that style of singing. Hell, some bits and pieces feel more like Kurt Vile songs, throughout the entirety of I Can Handle It, but while Yr Head contains that same southern fingernail dirt, most passages are formed by Cook-Parrott’s hysteria, beginning certain lines as if he’s just ran into a board meeting with his arms flailing like tentacles. It is comparable to the mood swings of Spinning.
He is deathly unrestrained on Cartoon Logic, buddying up with the craziness of the tune’s guitar explosions and the wonderfully dissonant backing vocals of Cynthia Schemmer. I love how unfriendly his murmurs are on Kill2Die and Bette (&Me); such an antisocial delivery.
There are ditties that have a little something else to offer, for better or worse. Warming World glares from the shadows with abstract textures and blinking drum loops, like an old Beach House track. Reason 2 Be accomplishes as much atmospherically, but Sam’s voice is still a contributor, appearing floatily, as if enjoying a new life underwater, teasing dramatic chord shifts that simply get floatier.
Can’t Stand Myself is some kind of Cloud Nothings instrumental, before Sam’s vocals kick in, still unhinged, but a little buried, removing a lot of the emotion. This muted style of production may lead to a few tracks feeling underwhelming, but Radiator Hospital still manage to scratch the same itches as four years ago on Can’t Make Any Promises.
Best track – Reason 2 Be.
Weakest track – Can’t Stand Myself.
Rating – 6 out of 10
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