Adult Leisure is a relatively young band out of Bristol who have a mature sound and a balanced view of life. The group formed during the 2020 lockdown and dropped their debut EP, The Weekend Ritual, mid-Decemeber 2022. Their early practice and writing sessions, during a period of relative isolation, admittedly helped the band hone their sound, and as a result, they come across as rather well-established despite still being a little pickled behind the ears. Their lyrics come from a vantage point of a sturdy, far-seeing gaze and their overall presentation is steeped in a tremendous sense of calm, which feels reminiscent of the early work of The Police, by which I mean romantically hooky post-punk chords and surefooted grooves supporting hopeful observations about humanity, glimpsed from weathered eyes. Despite Adult Leisure's grounded sense of tender, fantast poise, they still manage to make The Weekend Ritual an undeniable rock album, triggering positive comparables across a wide index of indie and (what we would call in the US) radio rock acts; from relative newcomers like Fontaines DC, to pioneering standards like The Cure and the Pixies, and through to formerly marquee names like Snow Patrol. There is even a pinch of punk afterburn that fizzles to the surface of the guitar work when it comes to tracks like the relentless and persevering hurtle of "Happiness" and the bendy itch and evasive tumble of "I Don't Want to Talk." The high point of the release though, is the middle track "Control," a shakey-legged number that manages to stay on its feet through a combination of willpower, firm and reassuring bass lines, and a suite of genuinely invigorating vocal harmonic sweeps that provide an accommodating and encouraging bolster whenever its seems like the song is about to fall flat on its back. It might not be the weekend just yet, but that doesn't mean you can't indulge yourself a little by giving Adult Leisure's debut outing a spin or three.
