Reviewed by Ian Phillips.
By Pillow Queens, Royal Mountain Records/Virgin Music Australia 2022.
There has been a bit of an Irish theme of late in my offerings for your listening pleasure and Pillow Queens continues the flow.
Leave The light On is the first album I’ve heard from the Dublin based four-piece band and it’s an impressive indie/rock offering.
Pillow Queens consists of Pam Connolly, Sarah Corcoran, Rachel Lyons, and Cathy McGuinness.
They wrote Leave The Light On over a three-month period in 2021 before teaming up with producer Tommy McLaughlin in the studio.
It’s an inherently collaborative album and according to those who know the band’s previous, debut album, In Waiting (2020), this new offering presents a much larger sound but also a much more intimate look into the lives of the four writers.
There’s a delightful duality between songs that can blast and others that contain softness and require listening.
Well Kept Wife is sparse with a dominant pure and clean bass line, and chiming guitars providing highlights while My Body Moves lifts the tempo and makes you want to dance.
Delivered starts with a sparse chord progression before building considerable power through repetition of the chorus “I’ve been delivered”.
Thunderous drums herald the impending slow build and the whole track is quit mesmerizing.
The laughter at the end of the track suggests that they aren’t taking themselves too seriously.
Pillow Queens first album saw the band become full-time musicians and move to playing bigger venues as well as moving onto the festival circuit.
Leave The Light On is a sophisticated sophomore album that will cement Pillow Queens place as one of the leading lights of Irish indie/rock.
The critics have been effusive in their praise.
“This is the sound of the Dublin indie rockers taking the power back, and it’ll surely resonate with anyone who’s grappled with doubt and self-consciousness”.
– Consequence of Sound.
“Deceptively infectious, with sharp hooks and sharp nails.”
– BBC 6 Music
“Clever lyrics in loud and proud full-on Irish accents”
– NPR World Music
