7/10

Throughout the last few years, Brighton-based trio Orchards have always been ones to wear their hearts on their sleeves. Regularly finding experience and subject matter in their day-to-day lives, the band are very much in touch with their personal feelings and emotions, using them as jet fuel for their driven indie-rock aesthetic. But with the pandemic and lockdowns triggering something far more intense for the band this past year, they return with their latest EP 'Trust Issues', a release that shows a far more visceral and passionate guise than their previous work.

While not necessarily focusing on the anxiety of the pandemic entirely, singer Lucy Evers has attributed the previous year as the sole influence behind this new collection, citing the name 'Trust Issues' as a very literal and deliberate statement. But despite its clear and troubled lyrical content, which channels insecurity and uncertainty throughout, 'Trust Issues' makes great strides to find the rich and upbeat sound the band are known for. There is this wonderful juxtaposition between the musical direction and lyrical narrative that gives it a refreshing and captivating style, something that we rarely find with artists like these.

And although it is only five tracks in length, it felt like 'Trust Issues' could have gone onto become a full-length album. There is a clear and concise drive that runs the length of this new EP, something that they were obviously on a roll with and could very well become the core sound behind their long-awaited sophomore LP.