Pandora - Melancholic Freedom

Title: Melancholic Freedom
Artist: Pandora
Genre: Indie
Release Date: 15th January 2010
Label: Xochipilli Records



Album Review

Billing themselves as a Punk-Rock’n’Roll-Grunge outfit, it was interesting to see what Belgian newcomers PANDORA had to offer.

'Rock n Roll' belts its way into your attention with a very retro, raw feeling to it. The guitars are sharp as knives with a nagging, if a touch clean, riff permeating the whole song and angry vocals overlying it. It's not the most dynamic start to an album I've ever heard but neither is it anywhere near the worst, and it's a strong enough performance. 'Sophisticated Attitude' is the next track and the same retro feel attaches itself to this, with punk edged jagged singing and a feeling that it's being recorded live almost, which gives it added energy. 'Breed my dye' got inside the top 3 in the Belgian Indie Charts as a single and it's easy to see why. This is a great track which shows the vocalist at her very best and it really commands your attention, being head and shoulders over the previous two tracks.

The fabulously named 'Like a pissed flower in spring' is more discordant genius, the balance is perfect and it's interesting in its concept. Fifth up is 'Breakfast Saturday Night' a huskily vocal highlight of the album. This is primarily a good old fashioned guitar band fronted by someone who knows how to use her voice to maximum effect, so all you synthesiser lovers might be a tad disappointed, but it's well put together, dynamically sung and the guitar work is deftly accomplished with a nice line in percussion holding it all together. 'Cup of Poison' continues in the same vein as the preceeding track, highlighting the guitar based concept to the band whilst vocals as ever permeate the ether with an insistence that you sit up and take notice of this song. 'Post vomit lines' is a punky, catchy effort at changing direction slightly, but conversely only manages to sound cheerful despite aggressive vocals and gritty subject matter.

'Dark Milk' shows the band back to their best with a slower tempo driving track, and guitar work that smacks of the RED HOT CHILLI PEPPERS. It's a really great track, well worthy of single release. 'Bored' is more of the same aggressively vocal containing yet remarkably tuneful tracks that are by now becoming a staple of this album and it is good but not outstanding. Another of the album's gems is 'Bottle of Wine', a ballad of sorts, but with a hard hitting edge to it that showcases what this band does best. 'Rad Masturbation' (another of those tracks with a brilliant title you could just will yourself to like) has incisive lyrics but does wear a bit thin musically and could quite easily join the ranks of tracks that this album could have done without. It's not a bad track, just unremarkable when compared to the best of this album.

'Born in my eyes' by contrast is magnificent, with gently hissed vocals, great lyrics and a mix that's perfect. Sublime! 'Bohemian Dust Cakes' with it's noisy, energetic, post punk sound to it, is perfect for demolishing your garage to or slinging your ex's clothes into the street while the neighbours watch! Very nice indeed, and a welcome change from their other up beat stuff, as this has real edge and fire to it. The last track 'Rays light our last day' is very gentle, lethargic even, and is the perfect wind down after the destructive party of the previous track.

Overall I really liked elements of this album and really could have taken or left many others. The vocalist has a stupendous range of emotion in her voice and it's a unique voice, but the composition of the album, which is somewhat higgledy-piggeldy, its setlist and some elements of its production were disappointing. A couple of songs could have been omitted altogether without any detriment, but the good far outweighed the bad and I was left having thoroughly enjoyed it for the most part. Recommended for a listen!


Tracklist

01. Rock N Roll
02. Sophisticated Attitude
03. Breed My Dye
04. Like A Pissed Flower In Spring
05. Breakfast Saturday Night
06. Cup of Poison
07. Post-Vomit Lines
08. Dark Milk
09. Bored
10. Bottle of Wine
11. Rad Masturbation
12. Born In My Eyes
13. Bohemian Dust Cakes
14. Rays Light Our Last Day


Members

ANNIE - guitar / vocals
MIA - bass / backing vocals
ROMAN - drums


Website