In Spite Of Everything
‘In Spite of Everything’ is a record that was crafted following the tragic loss of Tim’s eldest son. The album’s new single, ‘Living Is Easy’, hones in on that all-encompassing grief and the sense of helplessness that comes with it.
As Tim explains, “At 2 a.m., sitting up and contemplating our loss during my child’s wake, I found myself reflecting on all the major news events that had left their mark on me through the years and the helplessness I sometimes felt to change anything. Writing the last verse was the most difficult and personal thing I’ve done. My child’s journey and loss have changed me profoundly, but they also remind me, even in these darkest moments, of all I have to be grateful for. Through this song, I hope to honour their memory and the light they brought into our lives.”
And yet even in the depths of grief there often remain fleeting reminders that life and its myriad wonders is still worthwhile. This dichotomy is particularly familiar to Sice in his professional capacity as a psychologist: the pain and suffering experienced by his clients needs to be addressed, but so too does the hope of a brighter future.
As such, ‘In Spite of Everything’ is an album contrasting loss and light. Those extremes are best represented by its closing two tracks. The heartbreaking ache of loss strikes during ‘Song For Natalie’, a track in which grief is channelled into an oppressive, droning post-rock soundscape while its intense maelstrom of emotions is only heightened by the direct candour of its lyrics. And then it closes with ‘Wasn’t I Enough?’ in which beautiful sonic textures emerge from the chaos that surrounds it - symbolic of how music can somehow offer something life-affirming even within the most devastating of circumstances.
Yet throughout its complicated emotions (also dealing with interlinked themes, such as searing self-reflection, the chaos of nature, fractured friendships and judging life’s biggest decisions), ‘In Spite of Everything’ largely maintains an irrepressible energy. As they have always shown, The Boo Radleys possess an inimitable flair for finding enticing melody in off-kilter sounds - a trait found in highlights such as the post-punk/psych cocktail ‘Affected / Rejected’; the luminous indie-pop appeal of ‘Do Better, Know Better’ with its allusions to ‘70s art-rock style; and the driving funk grooves of arguably its most immediate moment, ‘Bring Them Back Again’.
In short, it’s the sound of The Boo Radleys using touches of their essential back catalogue as the foundation for an inspired adventure into new territory.
‘In Spite of Everything’ is now available to pre-order HERE. Physical formats include black vinyl and CD. A double-CD edition adds a bonus disc capturing the band’s show at La Maroquinerie, Paris on October 29th, 2025 - this will only be available at the one-off Rough Trade East in-store set and signing session on May 1st and via the band’s official store. A limited edition coloured vinyl is available exclusively via select independent record stores.
They will be back on the road in May for an intimate run of shows across the UK and Ireland, with support from Leo Walrus (at Ipswich, St. Leonards, Southampton, Blackpool and Birmingham) and The Wu (at Limerick and Dublin). Remaining tickets for the tour, including the Rough Trade East in-store, are available HERE.
