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Sep 26, 2019 Web Exclusive By Haydon Spenceley

These days, if a band makes it as far as a third full-length album it can be counted as something of a triumph in and of itself. Given the fickle state of the contemporary music industry, it comes as something of a surprise to find a band or artist who has been able to develop and be nurtured in a way that was commonplace at one time, but is now all-too-rare in the headlong rush for hits and the monetizing of creativity, often not for the benefit of the people creating the art themselves. Temples, mercifully, are one such band. Hot Motion is their third album and shows such a gigantic growth from either of their two previous albums as to leave the listener giddy with delight. If only this would be given time to happen more often.

This is bright, progressive, shimmeringly psychedelic rock music of the highest order. Whether it’s the delightful “You’re Either On Something” or “Atomise” that grabs you on first listen, “Context” or “Not Quite the Same” that gets you second time around or any of the other massive highs that pepper the album which ultimately keep you coming back for more, what quickly becomes clear if you spend any time with Hot Motion is that Temples have become a vital band. They have achieved the almost unachievable in 2019, a rock album that is required listening from start to finish, rather than being a collection of singles and skippable filler. They ought to be applauded for this, and the record ought to be lapped up by a public longing for depth and heft in its music. Spend time with this album. I categorically promise you that it was leave you elated. And then press play again. (www.templestheband.com)

Author rating: 8/10