Birmingham has taken a real bashing recently, with various news outlets saying that it’s not a great place, not the prettiest city, even bringing Jane Austen into it by using a quote she wrote in her book, “Emma”: “They came from Birmingham, which is not a place to promise much, you know, Mr Weston. One has no great hopes of Birmingham. I always say there is something direful in the sound." This quote has been used against the city since 1816 when then book was published.
Well, this Brummy band are gonna bring the name up a bit, let me tell you.
Having listened through the album a few times, I would normally have got to the point where I would skip through a couple of tracks that are weaker than the rest, filler material. But to quote Sum 41, this album is “All Killer, No Filler”. There’s maybe one that I would be a bit iffy about, but that’s it!
The album kicks off with 'Higher Than The Sun'. It’s got this really decisive guitar and drum intro. The cymbals make it sound a bit like waves crashing really softly in the background. The vocals remind me a bit of Luke Pritchard of The Kooks, really kind of colloquial, not trying to impress anyone but still really good. The chorus comes in like a really forceful sea wave, really hits you. It’s got a really catchy riff throughout; just generally a great first track. There’s something a bit Oasis-y about them.
Next track is 'Follow Baby', the first song I ever heard by this band and the one that got me liking them in the first place. It was released at the beginning of last year, and it’s now been re-vamped to be a single from the album. There’s something a bit Nirvana about this song. It’s got a really dramatic bassline and really catchy drumwork. This song proves that they know exactly what their sound is and they’re not scared to go for it. A lot of bands these days are buying into the currently successful commercial dubstep, so it’s really quite refreshing to hear some proper music again. I am really reminded of Oasis in this album, and I love their music as I grew up on it, and I’ve missed the fact that bands don’t really make this music anymore. Hopefully Peace will help to bring this back.
'Lovesick' is a bit more upbeat. I can imagine this will be a really great track live. Something I’ve noticed with this album, and with their music in general, is that there’s absolutely nothing sloppy about the songwriting, but somehow it doesn’t sound forced, it just sounds completely natural. Naturally perfect. 'Float Forever' is next, and starts off with a ukulele sounding guitar (think of a typical Hawaii beach scene where someone is playing one in the background, and you’ve got the type of sound that I mean). There are some great harmonies on this track. It reminds me a bit of U2 in their early days. There’s a lot of feeling in this track, a lot of emotion coming through, and it’s got a brilliant little outro.
'Wraith' has been chosen as the first single from the album, and there’s no question as to why. After the serenity of 'Float Forever', this song is once again a bit more upbeat, and you could definitely dance to it. Just in case, like me, you were wondering what a wraith is, it’s a “ghost or ghostlike image of someone”. It’s got an awesome riff and a great drum beat in the chorus, so it’d probably be great live as well. It feels really driven as well, like it’s going somewhere. Harrison Koisser’s vocals sound as though he’s just throwing the notes around, but they’re all perfect.
Peace released an EP last year named after one of the tracks – 'Delicious', the next song on this album (if you haven’t already checked out the EP, I suggest you do so). There’s a funny sound to begin with, kind of like a cow bell. Various different layers appear and it kind of sounds like an 80’s track. The vocals creep in, and then it’s suddenly the chorus, which is a completely different sound whatsoever. It’s really clever, and really catchy. 'Waste Of Paint' has another great riff to it. It’s quite similar to the other songs but there’s nothing really distinctive about it. It’s still great though.
'Toxic' is the one that I was a bit iffy about. It’s still a good track, and it fits in with their sound, but again there’s just nothing really distinctive about it. 'Sugarstone' makes me think of the music that hippies were listening to, which makes sense as the band’s name is Peace and that’s kind of what they were all about. The last track is 'California Daze', and was also on the EP 'Deliciou'. It’s a great outro track with beautiful harmonies. It’s going to be a big summer track I reckon. All round, a great album. Koisser said this about it: “If watching thousands of romantic movies & singing billions of love songs throughout our lives hasn’t left us thinking that getting really in love is something we want, need, hate or don’t give a f*** about, then maybe “In Love” is about to.
“I guess as an album it feels like an antidote or something. I’m not sure what for but can you really be sure about anything? It’s 2013 and it’s time to find out”.
If you get the chance, I would definitely advise you to go see them live!
Peace release 'In Love' on Monday 25th March. They tour the UK in April.
Tue April 2nd 2013 - Club Academy, Manchester
Fri April 12th 2013 - Manchester Club Academy, Manchester
Tue April 16th 2013 - The Arches, Glasgow, Glasgow
Wed April 17th 2013 - Electric Circus, Edinburgh
Thu April 18th 2013 - 53 Degrees, Preston
Fri April 19th 2013 - Leadmill, Sheffield
Mon April 22nd 2013 - The Fleece, Bristol
Tue April 23rd 2013 - Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth
Wed April 24th 2013 - Concorde 2, Brighton
Thu April 25th 2013 - Sub89, Reading
Fri April 26th 2013 - O2 Academy Oxford, Oxford
Sat April 27th 2013 - O2 Academy Birmingham, Birmingham
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Well, this Brummy band are gonna bring the name up a bit, let me tell you.
