Indie stalwarts reaffirm their creative value...
30 · 07 · 2025
Don’t blink, but it appears that time is tricking us. How else can we account for We Are Scientists celebrating 20 years – a full two decades! – since the launch of their debut album ‘With Love And Squalor’? In reality, the band is looking ahead rather than reminiscing, and their new album ‘Qualifying Miles’ showcases the indie rock trio moving forward with confidence.
While the energetic indie sound of their early days may have faded, this more mature and often openly emotive version of We Are Scientists serves as a worthy substitute. Unafraid to express their Anglophile influences, ‘Qualifying Miles’ carries a touch of Suede, with broad, resonant vocals and lyrics – oscillating between clever and articulate – creating impactful experiences.
The opening track ‘A Prelude To What’ showcases the band’s creative self-assurance, blending the vigor of their live performances with a semblance of studio finesse. A lively collection of 12 tracks, the standout moments come swiftly – the allure of ‘Dead Letters’ and the 80s-infused drama of ‘The Big One’.
Shadows of late-era Smiths hover over some of the chorus-rich studio effects, which is not a negative; the band taps into their empathetic side with ‘Please Don’t Say It’, while the anthemic ‘What You Want Is Gone’ poignantly addresses feelings of regret.
Although not everything lands perfectly – with tracks like ‘At The Mall In My Dreams’ drifting into introspection – when the album does resonate, ‘Qualifying Miles’ indicates that time has treated We Are Scientists well. By the time the closing track ‘Promise Me’ arrives, it’s clear that Keith Murray, Chris Cain, and Keith Carne are far from done.
7/10
Words: Robin Murray
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