Citizen find their spark again on sixth album 'Halcyon Blues'

Citizen have released 'Halcyon Blues', their sixth studio album and the follow-up to 2023's 'Calling The Dogs'. The record was recorded by vocalist Matt Kerekes and mixed by Tom Lorde-Alge, a pairing that gives the album a presence and atmosphere well beyond the band's previous efforts.

The title points to the sadness hidden inside calm, and songs such as 'Good Fortune' and 'Highs and Lows' play on that contrast, balancing Kerekes' downbeat delivery with a lighter, more mischievous overall tone. After a predecessor that felt solid but safe, the group sounds rejuvenated, with every member carving out a defined role in the mix.

The rhythm section is a centerpiece. Ben Russin's drumming leans on quick snare hits and rapid hi-hat taps, lending 'Is It In My Brain' an uneasy, rustling edge, while the floor tom sound on 'Anne' stands out across the record. Eric Hamm's slightly distorted bass completes the backbone, freeing guitarists Nick Hamm and Mason Mercer to layer tremolo picking, effects-heavy attacks on 'I Can See You from Here', soft pitch shifting on 'Good Fortune' and ghostly delay on 'Either Way'.

The second half pushes toward noisier territory that recalls the band's 2013 debut 'Youth', filtered through the album's updated production. 'Highs and Lows' dips into throbbing electronics, while 'Matador' throws itself into noise, stop-start structures and electronic flourishes, marking new ground for the group. 'Ether' offers something close to a rousing chorus.

From 'Youth' through 2021's 'Life In Your Glass World', Citizen have reshaped their sound with each release. 'Halcyon Blues' arrives as the point where songwriting, production and renewed enthusiasm line up again, proving that sadness can still sound expansive.