Labels: notrock
Review by: Andy Malcolm
I couldn’t tell you the first thing about this band, who they are, what they are about and whatnot, so you will just have to settle for me pondering on their musical stylings. “Fall” is a remarkably solid, if a tiny bit unspectacular, album of gently mathy indie rock. The music reminds me of various things from a few years ago, small touches that make me think of bands like the Warren Commission (who remembers them?!), and a little gently wandering guitar that I want to compare to American Football but then again I don’t want to blight this band amidst the other bajillion bands around at the moment who sound more like American Football than these guys. On the softer songs they remind me a lot of Mates of State, but as a full band. Songs like “Atlas” particularly, in the male+female harmonies, and subtle keyboard line that props things up. The keyboard lurks in the background on other tracks on here, never intrusive and always aiding the music. The album is on the whole fairly under-stated, the production is light and doesn’t attempt to beef things up or give it a signature sound, allowing the best feature (the vocals) to have the most impact.
I’ve given this album a few listens now and it has not yet made a dramatic impression, but I am definitely convinced that I like it. It is downbeat in a way that I appreciate, mature in a way that doesn’t make me roll my eyes, and the song writing is really well judged. The only knock is that it doesn’t get me all hot under the collar in the way that my favourite bands do. Ultimately, Fall is a good, yet not outstanding album – and I think any band can be happy with such an achievement.