Santa Claws are a rock band from Brittany, France, formed in 2014, whose sound sits where British indie meets alt rock. They cite the melodic craft of The Beatles, the boldness of Radiohead, the swagger of Oasis, and the noisy pop hooks of Supergrass and The Breeders as touchstones, and describe the result as a refined, atmospheric alt-rock pop in which electric tension and melody coexist. Their 2017 debut, Life Is a Lie, was made with Greg Gordon, known for his work with Oasis and Supergrass, and it was followed by the 2022 EP Echoes.
Sands of Time
Sands of Time, released October 2nd, arrives nine years after that debut. The second full-length runs eight tracks and about 34 minutes, built on crunchy guitars, intricate arrangements, and rich analog textures, with songwriting kept front and center and a sound that moves between gritty, 90s-style urban energy and more intimate, melancholic atmospheres. True to that analog devotion, the band marked the release with a showcase concert at Studio Kerwax recorded straight to tape, in keeping with a philosophy of capturing the vitality of live music in its purest form.
The record also opens a new chapter for the lineup. Greg Aubert handles lead vocals, guitars, and keyboards, Antoine Montgaudon plays guitars and keyboards and arranges, Teddy Moisan plays bass, and Julien Pinel plays drums, and they’re now joined by guitarist Stéphane Kérihuel as a permanent fifth member, whose arrival adds depth, counterpoint textures, and more dynamic energy to both the live set and the studio work.
The album opens with “Gimme a Minute,” a song built on rhythm and feel rather than showy guitar work. It’s content to groove and grind, saving its cleverness for small guitar motifs and fills around the edges, with an extra thread of guitar weaving through the playout, and its real depth is in the lyrics, which follow a character named Sally who lives fully on her own terms and wears everyone else out doing it. “Rainy Day” follows with a very different touch, trading energy for restraint and letting quiet and space do the work. Ringing guitars, harmonies that drift around the melody, and a chiming piano give it a delicate, reflective feel, and the writing is poetic and wistful. “Two Days Ten Hours,” “Too Late,” “Surrender,” “Tattoo Me,” and “Rescue Me” carry the record through its middle stretch, and it closes on “Grain of Sand,” a mellow rock track with a low, resonant baritone vocal and acoustic verses that open into a burst of distortion and bluesy color on the chorus before melting into a hazy climax. Its message is one of optimism and perseverance, which makes it a fitting way to end an album that spends so much of its time between grit and melancholy. Every track on the album is tagged explicit.
Final Thoughts
Sands of Time is a mature, atmospheric return that pairs analog warmth with sharp songwriting, moving comfortably between groove-driven rock and quieter, more delicate moments. It’s available now. Follow Santa Claws on Facebook and YouTube, or visit their official site.
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