Bands today seem to be offering more and cleverer tweaks musically and lyrically, perhaps to stay one step ahead or perhaps this is the beginning of another musical trend, either way this movement is compelling and exciting and it adds another twist to the indie music revolution which has been on the go for some time.
This group Spring Offensive and their debut album Pull Us Apart is a fantastic example of this. It is not a dramatic album in musical terms, but lyrically it is quite brilliant, at first the lyrics appear simple and abstract, but listen a couple of times and you begin to unravel the intricacy and cleverly thought out paths that they have taken. They are delivered at times in the 3rd person, as though you are listening to a conversation, in much the same way that the late Ian Curtis did, only not as dramatically delivered, nor do they touch on quite the same dramatic personal topics, there is also a touch of Morrissey there, taking simple topics and extracting the sorrows within them, speaking closely to the listener.
There is clever use of backing vocals also and changes of musical delivery in each track and although it is not an album which immediately hits you in the face and begs for attention, it grows on you with each listen and asks you to listen closer to the subtle excellence hidden in each little gem of a track.
So the 5 lads from Oxford, who have only been together for 3 years have done good, this album is cool, clever and dynamic.
Abacus Rex is a musical blend of distorted guitars and rhythmic chorus riffs over simple drum beats. The abstract lyrics which are delivered by song, chants and then backing chants at various times tell the strange tale of Alan Turin, a mathematician and his obsession with his work and his suicide. It's a strange topic for a song and the desperate end is delivered well as the volume and tempo drops, while the chanted lyrics grow. What this track lacks musically and vocally it makes up for lyrically.
Every Coin is musically much better, the heavy drums and plucked guitar notes rise and fall with small passages of dramatic, military style drumming and short sections of heavy riffs. The lyrics tell of a man forced to literally eat the entire contents of his wallet. It's another strange and initially difficult topic, but it makes more sense with each listen until you begin to realise, the lyrics are actually quite brilliant as they are chanted through each verse, then sung gently at the chorus, before ending with a rocking crash of heavy riffs and drums.
Anything Other Than This begins with a melodic, musical intro, which is quite upbeat, which breaks between hand claps and simple guitar. It's a track which never settles, but instead rises and falls musically and vocally, keeping the listener on their toes as we begin to take on another classy show of song writing, this time the tale of their own struggle starting out as a band and the fact they nearly gave up. It grows in musical depth throughout until it ends with heavy riffs and symbol crashes.
I Found myself Smiling is a deep thoughtful track. Very simple but deep, soft guitar and thumping drums and even more depth in the clever use of the tracks lyrics. It is a good example of the similarity between themselves and Morrissey when he was with the Smiths, lyrically anyway.
Little Evening has a real gentleness to the sung vocals and acoustic guitar melodies, which is at times, backed up by the group's vocal backing. The track is again mellow and thoughtful before it fades out to a mess of musical tension and static crackling.
Slow Division is a perfect example of the group's use of 3rd person lyrics. Quite an upbeat drum beat and mellow guitar contradict the sorrowful tale from the lyrics. The song crashes into sections of heavier instruments towards the dramatic end as the vocals uniquely rise and fall with them. A very classy and clever track.
The cable routine tells the darkest story of all the tracks on offer and the stories delivery is equally as desperate with a very clever use of tense drums and soft guitar with equally tense and soft vocals which break into harrowing passages at times, as the track builds and builds with tension until the dramatic end. Purely as a musical exercise this is absolutely top class and very, very clever, as a track it's very good and a good way to end this very clever album.
A very unique and intelligent album, which compels and teases. What it lacks in musical and vocal brilliance it makes up for in lyrical genius.
Stereoboard.com Rating: 7/10
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