Artist: The Strange Death Of Liberal England
Title: Drown Your Heart Again
Genre: Indie Rock / Experimental / Folk
Release Date: 22nd October 2010
Label: DevilDuck Records
Album Review
THE STRANGE DEATH OF LIBERAL ENGLAND (TSDOLE) originally started with instrumental compositions where vocals were used just as another instrument, but soon they began adding lyrics and giving the singing more orthodox place. Their Indie Rock style absorbs Folk and Punk and few other elements and the combination is quite a boisterous mixture. They’ve built a reputation for their live shows where they employ a different presentation to other bands - between songs they use placards with statements, names of the songs coming up or “thank you” instead of a direct communication, maybe apart from wanting to stand out they were also inspired by protest tactics or BOB DYLAN’s video for ‘Subterranean Homesick Blues’. It may be argued that it makes the gig impersonal but their fans seem to love it which is probably due to its quirkiness and contrast to their ostensibly chaotic and noisy songs. They supported bands such as MANIC STREET PREACHERS in 2007 and recently EDITORS. They are also said to be the British answer to Canadian ARCADE FIRE, but in my opinion the latter is still the better band - not so much over the top as TSDOLE.
After release of two singles and a demo or “mini-album” ‘Forward March!’ in 2007, they are finally coming out with their full length studio album ‘Drown Your Heart Again’ and it’s about high time or more precisely - high tide! If not the band’s emblem of the ship, several titles from the first half of the LP alone will betray that they live nearby sea - they are from Portsmouth - a naval port located on Portsea Island on the south coast of England, its harbour is a home to many famous ships - it has certainly made a stamp on the feel and impression of their music - it’s drenched through and through in salty sea flavour and not only the songs with the obviously relevant titles - all of them contain it one way or the other. In the last track ‘Dog Barking At The Moon’ you’ll even hear a ship-horn sound at the beginning and samples of the waves crushing, sand being crunched (presumably under the force of the waves or of footsteps) at the shores which fill the silent intermezzo.
THE STRANGE DEATH OF LIBERAL ENGLAND’s melodic and harmonious choruses reminding of merry maritime songs are infectious. Sometimes the singing can get too much overwhelming; some of the songs would have been better served by quieter and more demure refrains and culmination of their build up although on the other hand it creates the characteristic “stamp” on their music. ‘Like A Curtain Falling’ shows that when they’re more Punk than Folk they can pull the right balance off better than vice versa, but the Folk and also experimental side of TSDOLE brings its great points by enriching their sound by various instruments such as for example glockenspiel, you will also find brass band elements (i.e. in ‘Flagships’) and string arrangements. ‘Autumn’ is one of the songs where the bassist Kelly Jones vocals are included more prominently so it nearly sounds as a duet with Adam Woolway, the tone of her voice and the interaction reminds me of THE BEAUTIFUL SOUTH though Jones doesn’t get as much space really.
Although the band’s name was coined after a book by George Dangerfield who wrote about decline of the Liberal Party of England during the early 20th century the lyrical orientation is not as political as it may suggest. You can breathe out in relief or be disappointed according to your tastes. The nautical theme serves in a series of allegories of one’s struggles with emotions and fears connected with water - the obvious would be of drowning (being sent to Davy Jones’s Locker) or losing oneself emotionally. However melancholy or macabre that may sound you will also get the sea’s upbeat spiritual end of reconnection with nature and the ocean’s sense of freedom.
Listening to ‘Drown Your Heart Again’ at home (car, work, etc) is an interesting experience; it would be much enhanced by a couple of beers and English seaside favourite - fish and chips. The connection of their music with seafaring songs does have the effect you’d quite enjoy it down the pub too. Truly, the album begs to be heard live where the enjoyment would be at its best the most - and thus, recommended.
Tracklist
01. Flickering Light – 4.39
02. Flagships – 3.43
03. Rising Sea – 4.11
04. Like A Curtain Falling – 3.23
05. Lighthouse – 3.44
06. Autumn – 3.03
07. Shadows – 4.12
08. Come On You Young Philosophers! – 3.55
09. Yellow Flowers – 4.15
10. Dog Barking At The Moon – 12.29
Line-up
Adam Woolway - Guitar, Main Vocals
William Charlton - Guitar, Drums, Backing Vocals
Kelly Jones - Bass, Backing Vocals
David Lindsay - Drums, backing vocals
Andrew Wright - Glockenspiel, Percussion, Backing vocals
Websites
http://www.tsdole.co.uk/ / http://www.myspace.com/tsdole
Cover Picture
Rating
Music: 6.5
Sound: 6.5
Total: 6.5 / 10
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