Nature Always Wins. Maxïmo Park

Is it fair to compare a band to one of its first and best songs forever? That answer has to be no, but as a fan of that specific song, I just can't help doing so. At the time of Maxïmo Park's live show following its third album, the band indicated that it knew what its most anticipated song was as well. It played 'Apply Some Pressure' as the very last song, letting the old Tivoli venue in Utrecht erupt for a final time.

With the release of Nature Always Wins the band is in its third decade and the singles that preceded it, got me interested again. They did not so much sound as the Maxïmo Park of the 00s. The band does not have to. What I am hearing, is inspired songs where the band showcases what it is capable of in 2020/21. And that is more than enough to enjoy what is on offer.

Of course the voice of Paul Smith, that slightly nasal sound, defines a large part of Maxïmo Park's sound. His voice is up front and immediately identifiable as such. The second part is the high energy postpunk songs of the band. They can be found on the new album, but what was missing in the past years was that little extra the band had on its first two albums.

A band has to evolve over the years to remain interesting. Maxïmo Park has evolved but did not always remain interesting to my ears. With Nature Always Wins that has changed as I like many of the guitar riffs, the vocal melodies and harmonies.

Time changed the band in another way as well. After losing bassist Archis Tiku in the mid-10s, keyboard player Lukas Wooller left the band in 2019. The effect is, perhaps surprisingly, not much less keyboards in the sound, instead of more guitars. I'm not complaining but mostly because of the quality of the songs on Nature Never Wins. Take the upbeat discobeat song 'Meeting Up'. The synths are all over this song as if Wooller never left. The song is surprising because of its beat, but is of the cheering up kind.

What I also like is the duets/harmonies on the album. The female voice next to Paul Smith works really well in a few songs. It gives the band a different flavour at the right moment, growing the power of the album as a whole. Duncan Lloyd's guitar playing hasn't changed that much. Take the punkfunk lines in 'Why Must A Building Burn?'. They sound instantly recognisable. The song is energised but not necessarily recognisable as a Maxïmo Park song of old. It is far richer in melody and ease. It shows that the band is still able to write great songs, that should work live really well. And then comes 'I Don't Know What I'm Doing'. By then I got the picture of Nature Always Wins, a line from the final song, a ballad, 'Children Of The Flatlands'.

It's time to stop comparing. Maxïmo Park has evolved and in 2021 sounds like a very inspired band. Nature Always Wins is the album the band in my opinion needed to make to breath life into its career. Whenever we can go back to watch live shows, the most songs on this album will work really well along side the favourites of old to make an incredibly strong setlist. For now congratulations, Maxïmo Park, on a new, great album.

Wo.

You can listen to and order Nature Always Wins here:

https://maximoparkofficial.bandcamp.com/releases

or listen to our Spotify Playlist to find out what we are writing about:

https://open.spotify.com/user/glazu53/playlist/6R9FgPd2btrMuMaIrYeCh6?si=KI6LzLaAS5K-wsez5oSO2g