London-based duo Roar Idle return with Sailing In My Mind, is more like a slow voyage across shifting emotional tides. Bringing the best of alternative rock, bluesy guitar work, and psychedelia, the record thrives on atmosphere. At its core, the album explores love, longing, memory, and dreams shaped by the sea.
At its core, Roar Idle is Ro Arora (vocals, guitar, songwriting) and Olly Massey (drums and bass across most of the record, with bass duties notably shared on earlier tracks by former member Adam Kingsley, whose playing leaves its own subtle imprint on the album’s foundation).
The title track, “Sailing In My Mind,” immediately sets the tone. Warm, chiming guitars shimmer over pounding drums as Ro Arora’s husky vocal drifts through the mix with a hypnotic confidence. Layered harmonies add depth, while a subtle falsetto weaves around the lead vocal like a passing ocean breeze. The rhythm section pushes the song forward with infectious energy, capturing the album’s balance between introspective moodiness and driving rock dynamics. It’s an inviting opener that effortlessly pulls listeners aboard.
Further into the journey, “Island All Alone” offers one of the album’s most affecting moments. The guitars chime and lick with a gentle bluesy touch while the drums maintain a steady pulse underneath. Arora’s voice floats softly across the arrangement, carrying a sense of isolation and quiet reflection. There’s an understated beauty to the track, as if it’s content to let its emotions wash over the listener rather than spelling everything out.
Then comes “Voice Memo,” a dreamy standout that strips things back. Delicate plucked guitar lines provide the foundation as Arora sings about a girl who is “one of a kind,” lingering somewhere between memory and reality. The nostalgic lyricism, particularly the notion that living in a memory can feel easier than living in the present, gives the song a bittersweet charm that lingers long after it ends.
Throughout Sailing In My Mind, Roar Idle demonstrate a knack for combining groove-led rock with expansive atmospherics. The album is intimate and open-ended, like staring at the horizon and wondering what lies beyond it. Rich in texture, emotion, and melodic craftsmanship, it’s a rewarding voyage from beginning to end.
STAY IN TOUCH:
INSTAGRAM | SPOTIFY | YOUTUBE
Review by: Naomi Joan