There’s something immediately intriguing about Radiola’s Version of Life. The Paisley indie rock outfit aren’t particularly interested in staying in one lane, and their debut is all the more engaging for it. Fresh from a sold-out BBC Introducing showcase at King Tut’s, the band bring together indie rock, Americana, post-punk and experimental guitar music across a record that feels ambitious without losing sight of the song.
Produced by Dave Muir and mixed and mastered by Ross McGowan, Version of Life draws from a wide musical palette. The melodic instincts of The Beatles, the experimental edge of Wilco and the contemporary urgency of Fontaines D.C. can all be felt, but Radiola use those reference points as ingredients rather than templates. Keyboard contributions from Ciaran McEnneny add another layer to the arrangements, helping the album shift naturally between its contrasting moods and textures.
That versatility is particularly effective on This Is What You Get (For Falling Love), where relaxed guitars and a confident full-band groove give the track an easygoing immediacy. There’s a touch of Dawes in its melodic sophistication, but Radiola’s own character comes through clearly. Elsewhere, the band are happy to push much further, with the 13-minute-plus title track gradually evolving from hushed uncertainty and crackling textures into a sprawling crescendo before arriving at a Stone Roses-esque instrumental coda.
Across the album, that willingness to take unexpected turns keeps things interesting. This Song Is False establishes the record’s unpredictable nature from the outset, while closer tethered brings a warmer country-rock feel to the final stretch. Lyrically, Radiola explore love, life and death through shifting perspectives, mirroring the constantly evolving musical language. Yet beneath the experimentation is a consistent commitment to melody, ensuring the album never feels like an exercise in experimentation for its own sake.
Version of Life ultimately feels like a debut from a band still discovering just how far their sound can stretch. Radiola wear their influences openly, but rather than simply recreating familiar sounds, they pull them into something distinctly personal. The result is restless, occasionally expansive and full of ideas, but always rooted in a genuine love of songwriting and the freedom to see where a track might lead.
