The Wave Pictures:
City Forgiveness:
Moshi Moshi:
Out Now:
★★★★
It's a brave band that releases a double-album these days but for The Wave Pictures, a prolific ensemble at the best of times, recording and releasing City Forgiveness must have been a bit of a doddle.
Not that any of this sprawling twin-set sounds rush, far from it. This seventh official label-release is a dandy that requires your complete attention and no mistake, all of which means that most seeking quick cheap thrills won't find them here.
Music fans with a bit more gumption and a higher than average level will wallow smugly in TWP's sparky left-field indulgences and with perfect reason. Right from the off, when the terrific riff that envelops opener 'All My Friends' breaks sweat, you know you're in for an imaginative and unpredictable journey into explorative territories. If you can imagine Talking Heads, Ed Harcourt, XTC, Stornoway, Daniel Johnston, Paul Simon's 'Graceland' era and early Pulp sharing a kibbutz with any West African musician you could care to mention, you might be a bit nearer figuring out The Wave Pictures curious use of rhythms and time-signatures. I'll throw S.E.Rogie, King Sunny Ade and Ali Farka Toure into the argument, all purveyors of that sunshiney finger-picking sound.
And when frontman David Tattersall isn't getting busy with shuffling skiffling guitar rhythms, he's practicing lyrical gymnastics and wielding a pretty mean guitar, as with disc one's 'Yellow Roses and disc two's pivotal 'Crack In The Plans'. Mention the 'indie' word near this lot, I reckon they'd administer a sharp kick to the privates - City Forgiveness is all about, y'know, enjoying themselves, spreading out a bit and brazenly sweeping aside any comparisons with peers. Well OK, an obvious comparable is Velvet Underground on 'The Woods', which is the distant cousin of 'I Can't Stand It' to be fair and the rapturous Ry Cooder-esque 'Lisbon' which I imagine hits the nail on the head when performed live - it's a knees-up, I tell you.
I can't fault much of City Forgiveness - I'm not even going to imagine it trimmed down as a single album, a trait of mine when I hear a substandard double-album. I can only urge you to stick with this, give it a few listens, fall in love with the stand-out 'Red Cloud Road (part 2)' and make your own minds up.
City Forgiveness:
Moshi Moshi:
Out Now:
★★★★
Not that any of this sprawling twin-set sounds rush, far from it. This seventh official label-release is a dandy that requires your complete attention and no mistake, all of which means that most seeking quick cheap thrills won't find them here.
Music fans with a bit more gumption and a higher than average level will wallow smugly in TWP's sparky left-field indulgences and with perfect reason. Right from the off, when the terrific riff that envelops opener 'All My Friends' breaks sweat, you know you're in for an imaginative and unpredictable journey into explorative territories. If you can imagine Talking Heads, Ed Harcourt, XTC, Stornoway, Daniel Johnston, Paul Simon's 'Graceland' era and early Pulp sharing a kibbutz with any West African musician you could care to mention, you might be a bit nearer figuring out The Wave Pictures curious use of rhythms and time-signatures. I'll throw S.E.Rogie, King Sunny Ade and Ali Farka Toure into the argument, all purveyors of that sunshiney finger-picking sound.
And when frontman David Tattersall isn't getting busy with shuffling skiffling guitar rhythms, he's practicing lyrical gymnastics and wielding a pretty mean guitar, as with disc one's 'Yellow Roses and disc two's pivotal 'Crack In The Plans'. Mention the 'indie' word near this lot, I reckon they'd administer a sharp kick to the privates - City Forgiveness is all about, y'know, enjoying themselves, spreading out a bit and brazenly sweeping aside any comparisons with peers. Well OK, an obvious comparable is Velvet Underground on 'The Woods', which is the distant cousin of 'I Can't Stand It' to be fair and the rapturous Ry Cooder-esque 'Lisbon' which I imagine hits the nail on the head when performed live - it's a knees-up, I tell you.
I can't fault much of City Forgiveness - I'm not even going to imagine it trimmed down as a single album, a trait of mine when I hear a substandard double-album. I can only urge you to stick with this, give it a few listens, fall in love with the stand-out 'Red Cloud Road (part 2)' and make your own minds up.