Tribes – How the Other Half Live
We like Tribes here at Twister Towers and it’s safe to say
that their debut album ‘Baby’ was a triumph, in particular with Mrs Twister who
placed it high on her summer playlist last year. It’s with a slightly heavy
heart then that we have to admit to being a tad disappointed by their latest
offering.
It’s by no means without appeal, with the verses in particular
delivering the melodic strength to which we have become accustomed from the
Camden boys. Still, you have to ask yourself where ‘How the Other Half Live’
would have ranked as a single choice had it been up against its predecessors
from the aforementioned ’Baby ‘. After
several listens we’d have to say it falls a little short of the euphoria of ‘We
Were Children’, the straightforward pop bluster of ‘When My Day Comes’, and the
falsetto charms of ‘Sappho’ .
Instead, the song is driven by a bluesier guitar vogue that we’re told is part of a ‘bigger and more mature sound’, whilst in
structure, ‘How the Other Half Lives’ is simplicity itself. Intro gives way to
verse-chorus, verse-chorus, solo, and a Rolling Stones-esque outro that only
needs a few woo woos and bongos for that ‘Sympathy’ feel.
So what’s the verdict?
Well, Tribes are far from off our Christmas card list, and as Johnny
Lloyd belts “Give-it, give-it, give-it, you gotta give it more time”, we’re more
than happy to do so.. That said, if this is indicative of maturity, then a shot
of puerile wouldn’t go a-miss.
Exclamation Pony – Rumours
So with the Cribs taking a break how has Ryan Jarman been filling
his time? The answer it seems is Exclamation Pony, a collaboration that's seen him up sticks and move to New York to work with Jen Turner, once of Thom Yorke’s
favourite Brooklyn indie kids Here We Go Magic.
The result it has to be said is not a million miles away from
the Cribs. Perhaps the most obvious contrast may be Jarman’s upbeat demeanour.
He fairly skips through the all-be-it barbed lyrics, supported by breezy
backing vocals that suggest spring is just round the corner. One can only
presume there is more to this collaboration than just mutual musical
appreciation.
How long Ryan’s sabbatical from his brothers is set to last may
become apparent as Exclamation Pony ride into town for some UK dates this
month, but by the sound of it he’s actually enjoying himself.
Willy Moon – My Girl
Is it just me, or has the wait for Willy Moon’s debut album
taken a lifetime? Currently on a month long tour of America, his return will
herald the release of the single ‘My Girl’ before the album ‘Here Comes Willy Moon’
finally sees the light of day.
So what of ‘My Girl’? Willy has stated that he was trying to
make ‘something really simple and
stripped back, a dumb pop song’; I think we can say without fear of legal
action it’s mission accomplished Willy.
'My Girl’ is sixties pop kitsch meets big breaks head-on,
and dam the consequences. The lyrics are saccharin, the melody familiar to the
point of déjà vu; all that’s missing are the hand-claps. It really does have
the feel of a cover version, yet it’s a Moon original and I fully expect him to
get away with it. In fact, I fully expect it to be playlisted just about everywhere.
This is a full-blooded assault on the masses and I suspect it will succeed
whether you like it or not. As the impending album title declares, ‘Here Comes
Willy Moon’.
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