Qulture Magazine

Words: Madi Briggs

Album Artwork: Brain Soup Art

Following along from previous releases such as ‘Wake Up Call’, ‘Kintsugi’ is the latest project from Glasgow based band Apna. Deriving its name from the Japanese art tradition of repairing broken objects with gold, this twelve track delight is a patchwork of sound, helping to take the band to new and intoxicating levels.

Just like the name suggests, ‘Prologue’ is an exceptional opener to this sure-fire, thrill ride of an album. A musical pretext before you get into the heart of the album. The guitars gently guide you into this album packed full of surprises. With the song growing more confident by the second, it completely transforms itself into this carefully curated symphony of noise with each part coming alive, compelling you to stick along for the journey.

Every song on the track list is a fantastic showcase of the band’s talent and truly demonstrates the amount of time and effort that’s been put into ‘Kintsugi’ in order to make it the greatest that it can be. ‘Lost without Sound’ is an anthemic  and punchy tune with undertones of bands like Kasabian and Oasis shining through, showcasing the fact that Apna are beginning to get on par with some of the biggest in the game, highlighting the need to get into them sooner rather than later. ‘Imposter’ and ‘Not On Your Side’ are slightly heavier, tinged with synths and growling bass lines acting as the backbone of the tracks, making for a punchy listen each time. ‘Not On Your Side’ especially is one of the darkest tracks on the whole album, highlighted by the lyric “it’s funny that you’re thinking someone cares”. The song feels freer in a way with the loose yet powerful guitar riffs, demonstrating how the Scottish quartet aren’t just there to check a box, they’re there to make a statement with their sound.

The next couple of songs act as pivotal points for ‘Kintsugi’, each song is able to stand alone while still working exceptionally well together. The guitars in ‘Drown’ and ‘Smile’ are wailing delights, helping to push the album forward meanwhile the drums in ‘Back foot’ are the star of the show. The jump between ‘Back Foot’ and ‘Smile’ ensures that the former truly lives up to its name, making you want to discover more of what ‘Kintsugi’, and the band, has to offer, ‘Vitriol’, however, takes on a different path entirely from its successors. The bouncy bass and galloping drums makes for a lighter and more carefree song, allowing you to let your hair down and fully enjoy the offerings that Apna brings to the table.

Destroying the joy that’s just so quickly been created, ‘Wake Up Call’ is one of the most emotionally charged songs on the entire album. The somber tone that it takes on in the beginning is enhanced by the Glaswegian band’s smooth, honey-like vocals before their pent up rage escapes at the end, transforming this track into something fresh and exciting. The soaring guitars and low thump of the bass work hand in hand together, meanwhile the lyric “you’ve got me f*cked up, smoked up, scraping all the rest on my knees” breathes new life into this song.

The album concludes with, in my opinion, three of the strongest songs on the whole album. While being the shortest, it doesn’t make ‘Eigengrau’ any less impactful. The track adds a certain layer of calm which this emotive and slightly chaotic album certainly needs, with the gentle lapping of waves fades us out perfectly before the energy is amped right back up in the title track. Dramatic and laden with synths, you and I can appreciate why this has been chosen as the title song. Fading slightly near the end, the synths create an almost haunting atmosphere before building right back up again, getting your heart pounding and your feet moving.

Then, finally, we come to a close with ‘Epilogue’. Less intense than ‘Kintsugi’, the vocals, which are slightly reminiscent of acts such as Fontaines D.C and The Hours, don’t make an appearance until a minute and a half in, allowing the instruments to display the best of what they have to offer, making us sad that this joy-ride of an album has found a parking space.

Bold, daring and unique, Apna’s ‘Kintsugi’ is an album that’s bound to stand the test of time, helping to set the band apart from the crowded world of rock, it ensures that no matter what direction the band may take in the future, they’re destined for success.

You can see them live at their album launch at Stereo in Glasgow on 29th Aug, and listen to their album on all streaming platforms or below: