After an interminable wait, a major label signing and an endless flow of conjecture the latest Interpol album, Our Love to Admire, has finally arrived. We were not to be disappointed. The release date of the 10th July was about a month ago so I've had a good chance to really listen to this album. A lot of albums need a good listen before a judgement can be made. With the first two Interpol albums, Turn on the Bright Lights and Antics, this was certainly true and I believe the same with the third. My first impression was one of impatience because I wanted to get a grip on it immediately but this is a personal flaw I have with most new albums. The best thing to do is a little like panning for gold. Leave it playing again and again and wait for the nuggets to shine. I found it hard to move past the opening track, Pioneer of the Falls, but when I did I found a beautifully crafted piece of work. Paul banks has a memorable voice which is sometimes led and sometimes haunted by Daniel Kessler's guitar. The punctuating bass by Carlos D. and the timpanic drums by Sam Fogarino give Interpol their distinctive and glorious sound. Our Love to Admire is better than Antics but not as good as Turn on the Bright Lights(which few albums would be). This band seems to have an endless supply of great melodies and they have put another kitbag of great tunes together here.
Interpol have something a lot of bands only dream of and that is depth. Each song has layers that emerge from hidden corners and take you on the neon and concrete motifed journey that has become synonymous with Interpol. This is a great band and one that surfs the zeitgeist wave with aplomb. They may have reverted to the sounds of the 80's but they have reworked them to make them their own. Working with new label Capitol hasn't had a detrimental effect at all and just because a band is receiving some well earned kudos doesn't signal a disentergration of product. We should remember that many great bands of the past have moved to major labels seamlessly.
There is a difference in Our Love to Admire from their earlier work. A subtle difference but one worthy of a band exploring their signature sound. The parisian synth, cracking harmonies and shimmering guitar are indicators of a broadening sound. What were we expecting from this album? More of the same but a signal of growth? Of course, just what we expect from every new album from every great band. Rarely are we offered something completely new by an artist and usually if we are we tend to turn up our noses. Interpol have kept to their formula but taken it to a grander scale. This is an excellent album and one that will grow on the radar of 2007 releases.
The album opens with the epic, Pioneer of the Falls. "The soul can wait" but what for? More of the parisian synth and wailing guitar we hope. It is followed with the bass-led, No I in Threesome, irksome title but a wonderful song. The Scale, The Heinrich Maneuver, Pace is the Trickand Mammoth all deliver what Interpol do best. A tightly knit montage of guitar, voice and bass in which you have to search for weakness. Wrecking Ball, another favourite, begins with signature Interpol guitar but grows from harmony to an aching echo of modern life and becomes distinct when the band pays homage to Mercury Rev's meloncholia. Overlays of brass and synth transform songs from much of the same to moments of brilliance. As I said this is a great album and I have trouble finding much wrong with it. I'm trying my hardest but failing miserably. There isn't a weak song but my only concern would be the order. They could have separated the final two tracks and inserted (what I think is the best song on the album) The Lighthouse in the middle so as to break a measure of sameness.
We have waited a long time for Interpol's new album and it has been worth the wait. People will find this album accessible and full of layered depth. It will grow in the collective music consciousness despite a less than brilliant critical reception. Good albums have a way of thwarting unfavourable critical response (which uncannily seems to have missed the point). This is a must for a modern music collection and one that would receive that greatest of all responses, "What's this you're playing, mate?"
Here are a couple of tracks from the Our Love to Admire. Download them, listen then go and buy the album so you can hold onto what you're listening to (great album art as well). All single MP3 downloads are now via DIRECT link.
Pioneer to the Falls
The Lighthouse
And the Latest video, The Heinrich Maneuver:
0 comments:
Post a Comment