Legends of the Seven Golden Vampires create perfect Dream Pop on “The Pumphouse of Broken Dreams”
Following up a debut that critics obviously praised for its bold, nostalgic, and contemporary mix of styles is a tough assignment, but Hertfordshire’s Legends of the Seven Golden Vampires don’t just meet it here. They’ve refined it for something beyond excellent. “The Pumphouse of Broken Dreams” feels more focused and more confident than its predecessor and it’s a record that rewards you for settling in and staying a while. Grab some headphones and sink into it!
Much of that new clarity comes from the addition of Dutch vocalist Ilse Van Der Linden. Her voice gives the band’s psychedelic pop a more melodic core and it pulls the songs together in a way that makes the whole album feel like one continuous world. Her delivery is serene, plain and simple. She floats over the arrangements with a calm grace that makes even the heavier moments feel gentle and that gives the record a lovely emotional thread from start to finish.
Musically, this is about as close to perfect dream pop as you’re likely to hear. The guitars drift and shimmer, and every so often the band leans into a droning, shoegaze texture that adds a ton of depth. The instrumentation is also excellent throughout, carefully layered and full of color, yet it always makes room for Ilse’s vocals to take center stage. Every part seems to know exactly how much space it should take up, which is a big part of why the album feels so cohesive. Some standout tracks on our end were easily the opener “To Think To Heal”, but also “Come Home” and “Lost & Burnt”. Though you should still 100% be listening untouched from beginning to end.
You’ll find out pretty quickly, but it’s also a record with real emotional range. Some songs sink into quieter, more somber territory, and carry a weight that stays with you to your core. Then other tracks lift the energy in the best possible way, with brighter instrumental moments that give the album a sense of momentum. That everlasting push and pull keeps the nine tracks feeling alive. There isn’t directly a single mood on this record as it shifts around, but for us, that was a major selling point.
Across its runtime, the record works as a true album experience. It’s different from the debut in obvious ways, but it still feels like a natural continuation, holding onto the band’s bold spirit while sharpening their sound into something more unified. The artwork by Gareth Halliday, whose work has appeared alongside Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, fits the mood nicely too. We’ve always said your first impression of a record is going to be the artwork and somehow someway, it sort of mentally preps you for what’s about to happen here.
All in all, “The Pumphouse of Broken Dreams” is a serene, immersive, and beautifully balanced album. Legends of the Seven Golden Vampires have grown into something special here and we already know we’re going to get lost in it again and again. So please, go ahead and click those links below to listen in, follow along, and of course to stay tuned for hopefully so much more in the new year!
Listen to “The Pumphouse of Broken Dreams”
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