ALBUM REVIEW: Memorials – All Clouds Bring Not Rain

Fire Records

Released: 27.03.26

“Life could be a cloud” sings Verity in a folky, floaty voice that could be Nico with a minimal Velvet Underground overground keyboard backing. Then that wispy, dreamy, summer sun scene is blotted out as the cloud greys and a storm bursts into a one-chord tempest that rages louder and darker and louder. Such are the light and shade contrasts on this amazing amalgam of styles, tempo switches and brewing musical dramas from Memorials, a remarkable project by a duo of Verity Susman and Matthew Simms (formerly of Electrelane and WIRE respectively).

Psychedelia, kraut rock cosmic, garage rock with even a whirring Leslie speaker for 60s organ and also dub, folk, pop; it is exploratory and boundary busting and yet laden with so many ear worm melodies that Memorials’ second album really does imprint on the memory.