Did you get the memo? Vistas are in a new era. The Scottish trio’s third full-length studio album, ‘Is This All We Are?’, chases up their acclaimed EP ‘The Beautiful Nothing’ (also via Is Right Records) and it spells a step forward for the band.

Through heavier elements, their original blend of easy-breezy indie has been both shaken and stirred, all while the lyrics negotiate terrain around life’s big questions. Although I first got into Vistas when they released ‘Stranger’, my favourite tune of theirs has been ‘Follow You Down’ more recently, so I was very eager to sink my teeth into this LP.

Recorded at Kempston Street Studios in Liverpool, the ten-tracker is a who’s who of guitar-based greatness. Vocal clarity and jangly, synthy beats are the common denominators, so you’re in for real value for money if those are your two main drivers when on the hunt for new tunes. 

Through the album’s reflective journey, you get pop bangers such as the feisty ‘Bad Idea’, alongside the chanty yet uptempo ‘Last Together’ and ‘I Know I Know’. And, although you’ll identify darker, more mellow chords sewn into ‘Nowadays’, it’s another to add to the ‘particularly bold’ pile. Plus, in fairly standard Vistas fashion, they’ve placed a feel-good, classic Britpop stamp on ‘Dopamine’ — and there’s something similar about the acoustic sensibilities of ‘The Garden’. 

Then there’s the softer, poignant offerings; the title track being a gentle and wistful example of that, thanks to its thought-provoking lines. And I’m very much here for the Feeder-esque style of ‘Sleeping With The Light On’. 

So whether you’re in the mood for slow and steady or you need a surge of energy, Vistas’ latest collection has got all vibes catered for in spades. 

If you only download one track, let it be: ‘Bad Idea’