Album Review: "Indication How We Were Before" by The Zombies
The Zombies have always had this knack for crafting tunes that feel both timeless and eerily ahead of their time. Their album Indication How We Were Before, released under Decca, is no exception. It’s a record that sneaks up on you—quiet at first, but then it digs its hooks in deep. You don’t just listen to it; you kinda live inside it for a while.
One track that stands out is “A Moment in Time.” From the opening notes, there’s this lush, melancholic vibe that feels like staring out of a rain-speckled window. The harmonies are tight, almost haunting, and Rod Argent’s keyboard work? Man, it’s got this understated brilliance that makes you sit up straighter without even realizing it. There’s something about how the song builds—not too flashy, just steady enough to give you goosebumps. It sticks with you because it doesn’t try too hard. Feels authentic, y’know?
Then there’s “Shadows on the Ground,” which hits different. It starts off unassuming, almost shy, but then Colin Blunstone’s vocals come in, and suddenly you’re not just hearing the music—you’re feeling it. The lyrics aren’t overwrought or trying to be clever; they’re simple, yet they hit right where it counts. And the way the guitars weave in and out? It’s like watching sunlight filter through trees. That balance between light and dark keeps pulling me back to this one.
What gets me most about this album is how unapologetically human it feels. These aren’t songs made for charts or TikTok trends (obviously, given the era). They’re crafted with care, like someone pouring their heart into every note. Listening to it now, decades later, feels like finding an old letter from a friend—you remember why you loved them in the first place.
And honestly? If aliens ever land and ask us what Earth sounds like, I might just hand them this album. Not sure if they’d get it, but hey, worth a shot.
