We Were Promised Jetpacks is a band name that seems off the cuff at first glance. This could be said for the Scottish indie-rock darlings' latest effort, an EP that reworks some of their record from last year, Enjoy the View – as remixed material may hold lukewarm appeal.
But A Complete One-Eighty gave Jetpacks the chance to revisit their first album as a three-piece and push some of the songs in directions they couldn’t previously envision. Though far from a household name, Jetpacks’ sound is unmistakable: soaring guitar chords and leads, thundering drums, full basslines, and Adam Thompson’s powerful vocals. They’re euphoric and rousing one moment, then introspective and delicate the next.
Consisting of six tracks, A Complete One-Eighty sees Jetpacks provide new versions of “Fat Chance”, “If It Happens”, and “All That Glittered” accompanied by remix tracks from Manchester Orchestra, Enjoy the View’s own producer Andy Monaghan, and singer-songwriter Zoe Graham.
A focused offering of songs works in the band’s favour; often albums of reworked material can feel like an added luxury at best, and unnecessary at worst. Here, it’s very much a worthwhile creative scratch of an itch, whether testing the waters for future material or simply seeing how far some rabbit holes may go.
“Fat Chance”, full of urgency in its album version, has become a mellow yet anthemic ballad. “If It Happens”, first spacious and guitar-led, has been given an entirely different texture and tone, made intimate and synth based. Meanwhile, the album version of “All That Glittered” played intensely and brooding, now it is aggressive with crushing synths over bluesy acoustic chords.
Of the three remix tracks, Manchester Orchestra give a lo-fi atmosphere to “If It Happens” with spacious chords, while Monaghan gives “Nothing Ever Changes” a warmth that exceeds Graham’s electronic, dancey take on “Fat Chance”.
Although it doesn’t live up to the depth a full-length LP can offer, this will entice the die-hard Jetpacks fans and interest newcomers alike. In all, A Complete One-Eighty is worth at least turning around and taking a peek.
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