Artist: British Sea Power
Title: The Decline Of British Sea Power (12th Year Anniversary Edition)
Genre: Indie Rock
Release Date: 19th June 2015
Label: Golden Chariot Records
Album Review
This album caused something of a stir when it first appeared back in 2003. A classic example of the slow-burner, it only just charted, but by word of mouth, and exquisite reviews by the more respectable music press, it went on to sell over 60,000 copies over the following two years. This allowed for bigger and better gigs, and an ever-increasing fan base, plus a string of eclectic and eccentric albums which have followed ever since. As a reissue, with all the usual bells, bows and b-sides thrown in for good measure, has ‘The Decline Of British Sea Power’ stood up well? The advantage the album had, and still has, is that it doesn’t sound of its time. In fact it doesn’t sound particularly of any time, from the intriguing and bizarre song titles to the quirky lyrics, even when the guitars jangle, they sound more like AND ALSO THE TREES, who ploughed a similarly timeless field over the years, than anything else from 2003.
Take the bang and clatter of the wonderfully titled ‘Favours In The Beetroot Field’ which has the raucous amateurism of punk shooting through its frenetic veins for all of 1 minute 15 seconds, and follow it with the pure pop swirl of ‘Something Wicked’ and you get a real sense of musical mischief-making. As a whole, the album clings to itself for dear life, narrowly avoiding splintering off into just too many styles and twisty turns. But it’s playful and confident, and when the loud/soft dynamics of the epic ‘Fear Of Drowning’ catches you up in its spell, there’s no letting go. It’s irresistible. Equally so is the single ‘Carrion’, a song that perfectly encapsulates that format and netted the band a well-deserved Top 40 hit back in the day. Some of the less memorable songs on ‘The Decline Of British Sea Power’ suffer only because they have to compete with the quality of song-writing shown on such album anchors.
Everything seems to fit into place wonderfully on final track ‘A Wooden Horse’. A folky bounce of melody and a steady build-up of guitar and drum all hurtle towards a glorious finale (something perfected on subsequent album ‘Do You Like Rock Music?’) which is just long enough to satisfy, but enough of a tease to leave you wanting more. It’s an odd album, there’s no doubting it, but it can sit proudly in the middle of 2015 just as it did in 2003. It’s the strange kid in the playground that nobody dares to bully but nobody really knows why. And that shows a certain amount of satisfying magic if nothing else.
Tracklist
| CD1 01. Men Together Today 02. Apologies To Insect Life 03. Favours In The Beetroot Fields 04. Something Wicked 05. Remember Me 06. Fear Of Drowning 07. The Lonely 08. Carrion 09. Blackout 10. Lately 11. A Wooden Horse |
CD2 01. Albert’s Eyes 02. Moley And Me 03. The Smallest Church In Sussex 04. Salty Water 05. Strange Communication 06. Birdy 07. Heavenly Waters 08. A Lovely Day Tomorrow 09. Apologies To Insect Life 10. The Scottish Wildlife Experience 11. No Red Indian 12. Good Good Boys |
Line-up
Scott Wilkinson
Martin Noble
Neil Wilkinson
Matthew Wood
Abi Fry
Phil Sumner
Website
https://www.facebook.com/BSPofficial / http://www.britishseapower.co.uk/
Cover Picture
Rating
Music: 8
Sound: 8
Total: 8 / 10
