The Strange Order of Things is the debut solo record from Nathan Connolly. With his day job as Snow Patrol’s guitarist but also a founder & driving force behind scuzzy rock outfit Little Matador, it was intriguing to know where this album would fall sonically.
‘Heart of Stone’ finds Connolly at his melodic best with the song full of energy and warmth. ‘Love Like Wildfire’ has that stadium rock aura that wouldn’t feel out of place on a Snow Patrol record. It is the defining moment where Nathan soars under his own steam.
The record suffers from a lack of cohesion sonically and doesn’t necessarily flow as a body of work. This is particularly true on the back half of the record where ‘Waves’ adds a swirling electro feel to proceedings while ‘Night Songs’ slows down the pace with similar electronic tinges. Interesting but not conducive to the flow.
This is also the case on ‘This Is All That I Don’t Feel’. It feels like it could’ve fallen off Wildness, the last Snow Patrol album. The soundscape feels a little gloomy but is saved in the final minute by a stunning trumpet solo from Linley Hamilton. Yet this doesn’t feel like a natural fit on the record.
The two standouts from the album feature guest vocalists who go front and centre on both tracks. Opener ‘Ghost’ features the vocals of rising Irish star Ailbhe Reddy and she is the perfect foil for Connolly. ‘Ghost’ has future single written all over it.
The other is penultimate track ‘Fires’ and finds Connolly calling in the star power with the Scottish twangs of Simon Neil. The Biffy Clyro front man’s dulcet tones bring a sense of gravitas to this brooding slow burner.
The Strange Order of Things is a solid debut record from Nathan Connolly. The pacing may be a little inconsistent in places but overall there are enough highpoints to warrant more than one play through.
