WATERS is the project of Port O’Brian lead singer, Van Pierszalowski. Waters is his new project, continuing the nautical theme throughout his works and there’s a few musical hooks to snag a few fishes. It fits in nicely between bands full of atmosphere like Wye Oak and Beach House, and the new surge of rough diamond bands like The Pains of Being Pure at Heart and Ringo Deathstarr. Out In the Light is scratchy and grungy without being over-bearing and seems to glide through the ears like it never entered, leaving a positive trail behind itself.

Enigmatic Pierszalowski sounds like he could crack at any point. His voice a thin reed, which is like the call of a whale lost in a sea of noise and melodious choruses - only for at some points of the album for the voice to be brought to the fore.

For the One is a raucous beginning to the album, Van comes out all singing all dancing at full-pelt. The strongest song on the album and single, and its a good way to push the WATERS boat away from land. His voice distorted and vocals behind swoon, “When I wake up and take you with me”. O Holy Break of Day is next for Pierszalowski, the hook in the song is the strongest on the album - the guitar sounds full of both regret and hope. And the formula is set for much of the rest of the album, loud pumping drums, strumming guitars and Van’s wailing vocals; quiet, loud, quiet, loud. Despite this, the album has the virtue of sounding fresh and experienced at the same time. Out In the Light is typical of the album, with its organic quiet-loud dynamic - ending with Van humming the melody, which dampens the ears of its listeners. The melody of Back to You is a jagged affair but this jaunty rocking of the WATERS feels like its perhaps one of the album’s more positive shades. Ones You Had Before feels as though he’s dipping his toe into the sea. One of the quieter tracks on the album, ghosting it’s way along. Abridge My Love begins as it’s predecessor before moving into another catchy chorus and bombastic feel. Its very refreshing and thumping guitar helping him along. “I can’t be the one, just to fake it for fun”, Van bridges the gap between naive and weathered, and tightrope walks along that line, catching the musical wind as he sails. If I Run, follows the same sort of pattern, but uses guitar echos in order to highlight his lyrical toil and quietens at points in order to point towards his solitude. Mickie Mantle is a lovely way to end an album that is mostly a triumph, the second ‘quiet’ song on the album, perhaps where the listener feels closest to the artist. “I could turn a train around, I could bring your country down”, sings Van, at his sugared-melancholy best. There’s a few sing-a-long choruses, and stays intimate without being too intense.

Out of the Light is a very promising album. Which, yes sometimes does sound a little formulaic, but his melodies are often very strong. When his band gets going and the guitars thicken out, they back up his songwriting with gusto. Van Pierszalowski will gain many friends with this album which is impassioned, earnest and catchy. Get caught on his line.