On the heels of the Verve and Oasis, UK quintet Embrace initially found post-Brit pop stardom in the late ’90s with an amalgam of anthemic hooks and rueful rock. After three albums, these media darlings found themselves dropped, publicly humiliated, and all but forgotten by fans. But now, with the new Out of Nothing already double-platinum in the UK — coupled with sold-out shows in the States — Embrace is once again welcome on both sides of the Atlantic.
Three years in the making, this ten-track LP takes Embrace back to its nascent, big-tune roots, such as the lush, country-colored piano anthem “Ashes.” The gorgeously understated “Gravity,” a gift from longtime band supporter Chris Martin, might have sounded like a cold Coldplay rip, if not for McNamara’s warm, soulful vocals. Embrace bids farewell with the Lennon-esque title track, which seamlessly moves from pleading piano and choirboy crooning to a grand roaring finale, and suggests that the band will be back a lot sooner than last time.
