Album Review: Beans on Toast - "The Unforeseeable Future"

 

And here's part 2 of our Beans on Toast review extravaganza. And it couldn't be more different to Knee Deep In Nostalgia which went up this morning if it tried. While that album was recorded with Frank Turner producing and had its watchword as escapism and taking solace in happy memories to escape these horrible horrible times we currently live in, The Unforeseeable Future sees Beans alone with his guitar and putting out an album of panic-stricken folk tunes about the events of the last nine months. Opener Strange Days looks on horrified at the changes in society during the first lockdown and hoping that humanity can rediscover its kindness to help get through while accepting that might just be a forlorn hope.

Chessington World of Adventures takes irate aim at the government's handling of the crisis like a less sarcastic Dead Sheeran to devastating effect while the self-explanatory Human Contact, What Colour You Are, Save The Music and Glastonbury Weekend see Beans taking on the mantle of a modern day Billy Bragg, despairing as the situation gets more and more futile over a skeletal acoustic guitar backing.

From the tender Got Each Other to the stark Trying To Keep The Lights On and Arseholes, The Unforeseeable Future is an incredibly bleak album but it's also quite cathartic in a way - just knowing that there are others out there suffering the way we are at least helps you feel a little bit less alone in this terrifying time. Closing track Patience? signs the album off with at least a comforting arm around your shoulder and hopes that the situation we find ourselves in will be over one day and we have the opportunity to rebuild back stronger.

As I said at the start of the review, The Unforeseeable Future is a completely different beast from Knee Deep In Nostalgia but taken as a whole, they're a much needed arm around the shoulder in these difficult times and I heartily recommend them both to anyone who needs something to give them hope at the moment. You can download The Unforeseeable Future from the Beans on Toast Bandcamp page. 

NITE SONGS RATING: 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑 (9/10)

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