ALBUM REVIEWS

We Were Promised Jetpacks
THESE FOUR WALLS
FATCAT RECORDS 15.6.09
@www.vanguard-online.co.uk


Do you ever wish you could bring a band back from a specific time in musical history when they were at their best? Oasis from ‘Morning Glory’ days, or Michael Jackson from ‘Off The Wall’ maybe? Well, what would you say to Idlewild circa ‘100 Broken Windows’? Thought that’d float your boat.

I’m not saying that I’ve stumbled upon a tribute act, nor a bunch of rip-off merchants trying to claim they wrote a solid Indie album from 2000. But the comparisons are there to hear – and I love it! I’m probably just trying to find some familiar ground and settling on the nationality of the young band to be honest, but, in terms of genre and style, WWPJ already feel like a well-established band.

Their opening track, “It’s Thunder And It’s Lightning” is typical of the album’s offerings; dense verses leading to big choruses that you want to play really loud. In fact, this particular song would sound ace in a thunderstorm….

Forthcoming single “Roll Up Your Sleeves” should suit all lovers of Indieness, even if it does sound like they’re singing ‘Steak arm’ through the bridge section (it’s really ‘stay calm’ if you’re puzzled…)

The real highlight of “These Four Walls” comes in the penultimate track, the 8-minute epic that is “Keeping Warm”. Opening with a 4½ minute instrumental, it builds to a crescendo as the lyrics kick in, lamenting the fragility of childhood; surprisingly deep for a standard Indie outfit.

But standard these boys are not. Having already been backed by Zane Lowe and with an appearance at SxSW under their belts, it looks like the future’s looking good for the best-named band of the year!

Simon Middleyard

www.myspace.com/wewerepromisedjetpacks