Homecomings’ Whale Living is a seaside stroll, the Kyoto outfit’s most reflective and generally laid-back album to date. Despite the tempo slowing down, the structure fits them well, seeing as they create short stories about everyday life and the often-melancholy emotions filling the time. “Hull Down” is a solid snapshot of the album as a whole, moving at a brisk walk (critically, Homecomings never get too slow…I don’t think ballads would suit them, and they always make sure the pace is enough to not fall into that category) and fitting in lots of details that reveal themselves over time. And the singing comes through most clearly, adding all the color needed. Listen above.
