Cannons – ‘Everything Glows’

(Columbia Records)

Cannons have always traded in atmosphere over aggression, the kind of band that prefers neon haze to spotlight glare. With Everything Glows, they don’t so much reinvent their sound as refine it to a high-gloss sheen, polishing every synth line and vocal whisper until it reflects like chrome under city lights. If you’ve followed their trajectory up to this point, you’ll recognize the mood instantly but there’s something sharper, more self-assured humming beneath the surface this time around.

What stands out immediately is just how cohesive the record feels. This isn’t a collection of disconnected ideas or experiments thrown at the wall; it’s a carefully curated sonic environment. From start to finish, the album drifts with intention, like a late-night drive where every streetlight hits at just the right moment. The pacing is deliberate, never rushed, never sagging. Cannons understand the power of restraint, and they wield it with confidence.

Michelle Joy’s vocals remain the gravitational centre of the band’s universe. Her delivery is cool, almost detached at times, but never distant. There’s a quiet emotional current running through her performance, something that suggests longing without ever spelling it out. It’s that ambiguity that gives the album its replay value. You don’t just hear these songs; you sink into them, picking up new shades of meaning with each listen.

Instrumentally, the band leans heavily into their established palette: shimmering synths, understated guitar textures, and rhythms that pulse rather than pound. But where earlier releases occasionally felt like they were coasting on vibe alone, Everything Glows adds a bit more structural muscle. The grooves hit with greater precision, and the layering feels more intentional. There’s a sense that every sound has been placed exactly where it needs to be and nowhere else.

The production deserves special mention here. It’s immaculate without being sterile, glossy without losing warmth. There’s a cinematic quality to the way everything is mixed, as if each moment is framed in soft focus. You can almost see the colours: deep purples, electric blues, flashes of gold. It’s music that feels visual, even when you’re just sitting with headphones on.

Lyrically, Cannons stick to themes they know well, romance, memory, the push and pull of connection but there’s a subtle evolution in how those ideas are expressed. The writing feels more distilled, less reliant on obvious phrasing. Instead of spelling things out, the album suggests and implies, leaving space for the listener to fill in the gaps. It’s a smart move, and it aligns perfectly with the band’s overall aesthetic.

There’s also an interesting tension at play throughout the record: a balance between escapism and introspection. On one hand, the album invites you to drift away, to get lost in its lush textures and hypnotic rhythms. On the other, there’s an undercurrent of reflection that keeps it grounded. It’s not just about feeling good; it’s about feeling something real, even if it’s wrapped in a dreamy exterior.

If there’s a critique to be made, it’s that Cannons don’t stray far from their comfort zone. Listeners looking for dramatic stylistic shifts or bold experimentation might come away wanting more. But that feels like missing the point. This is a band that knows exactly who they are and what they do well and Everything Glows is them doing it at a higher level than before. Sometimes refinement is more compelling than reinvention.

What ultimately makes the album work is its sense of identity. In an era where so many artists chase trends or pivot endlessly between styles, Cannons remain steadfast. They’ve carved out a niche that’s entirely their own, and they continue to deepen it rather than abandon it. That consistency pays off here, resulting in a record that feels both familiar and fresh.

‘All I Need’ opens the record with a confident glide, immediately locking into Cannons’ signature blend of sleek synths and understated groove. It sets the tone without overstating it, cool, controlled, and quietly addictive.

‘Starlight’ leans further into that nocturnal atmosphere, shimmering with a dreamy polish. There’s a sense of lift here, like the band stretching upward without breaking their smooth, grounded core.

‘Carousel’ introduces a subtle sense of motion, its rhythm looping hypnotically. It feels cyclical in a deliberate way, mirroring the emotional push-and-pull that Cannons do so well.

‘I Get Weak’ brings a slightly more vulnerable edge. The band doesn’t abandon their restraint, but there’s a soft emotional crack in the surface that gives the track extra weight.

‘These Nights’ settles into a late-evening mood, all hazy textures and reflective energy. It’s the kind of song that feels built for long drives and blurred city lights.

‘Shine’ adds a bit more brightness to the palette. Without losing their cool demeanour, Cannons inject a gentle sense of optimism, letting the production sparkle a little more than usual.

‘Light As A Feather’ lives up to its name, floating effortlessly on airy instrumentation. It’s one of the album’s most delicate moments, emphasizing texture over impact.

‘Fool For You’ pivots back toward a stronger groove, tightening the rhythm and giving the track a subtle pulse. There’s a quiet confidence in how it unfolds.

‘Good Luck Charm’ carries a playful undertone, though it remains firmly within the band’s polished aesthetic. It’s catchy without ever feeling overstated.

‘Photographs’ slows things down emotionally, leaning into nostalgia. There’s a reflective quality here that lingers, giving the album one of its more introspective turns.

‘Take Me To Tokyo’ closes the record with a sense of movement and escape. It feels like a departure point, fitting, given the album’s overarching themes of longing and atmosphere, leaving things open-ended rather than neatly resolved.

By the time the album closes, you’re left with the impression of having experienced something cohesive and intentional, complete thought rather than a series of fragments. Everything Glows doesn’t demand your attention with bombast or spectacle. Instead, it draws you in slowly, wrapping you in its atmosphere until you don’t want to leave.

In the end, this is Cannons at their most refined, their most confident, and arguably their most compelling. It may not shout, but it doesn’t need to. The glow it offers is steady, immersive, and hard to shake, a quiet kind of brilliance that lingers long after the music fades.

8/10

Essential Track – ‘Light As A Feather’

Review by Woody