|
This whole Brit nu-acoustic movement, taking the UK
literally like a slightly tepid breeze through 2001.
Well, there'll be no obvious behavioural problems lying
herein for a start. And where exactly would your heart
be without some of life's gentler and greener pastures
to flutter through on occasion. But whether through
a burgeoning loathing for James Walsh of Starsailor
or mere disinterest at such mass frailty, you kind of
wish someone'd just stick a firecracker up its backside
every once in a while. Which is perhaps where this record
comes in.
 So
what exactly do you find in the slightly unlikely partnership
of 3 musically adept lads from London with acoustic
guitars and a penchant for classic songwriting scooped
up by James Lavelle and his trendy roots hip-hop label
MoWax?
Something not too far from Turin Brakes being booted
into Liverpool docks by UNKLE as it happens. And with
a pretty high hummable anthem hit rate at that. While
there may be little denying that without the external
influence hot-wiring this might have ended up sounding
particularly ordinary, its beat leanings and atmospheric
awareness thrust its headway above the murky water.
The record's definition lies not in a reflection of
who or where they are, but like filmic dreamers Turin
Brakes, from a desire of where they want to be. Liverpool
in this case. There are echoes of Scouse mulling in
the mould of Shack or even The La's on the likes of
'By The Time You Catch Your Heart' and 'Southern Climes'
and 'Paint The Silence' jaunts like Echo & The Bunnymen
on hot coals. The instrumental 'All In For Nothing'
meanwhile makes like 'Kowalski' era Primal Scream under
the strobes just down the road at the Hacienda and the
'Broken Head' trilogy of tunes ups the intensity a touch
more. Coming up and coming down all over the place,
but holding you up the whole way. Campfire melancholy
just got hit by lightening.
Review by James Berry for Crud Magazine© 2002
|
