ALBUM REVIEWS

Black Gold RUSH RED BULL RECORDS 5.10.09 @www.vanguard-online.co.uk This is the debut album release from a pair of Brooklyn, NY based experimentalists – namely vocalist/keyboardist Eric Ronick and drummer/multi-instrumentalist Than Luu. They have previously played bit parts for several other bands such as Panic at The Disco, M.Ward and Boredoms, before joining their creative forces to form Black Gold. They fall into the bracket of emotive yet upbeat synth and guitar rock with an 80’s pop sheen. The whole package puts me in mind of that fantastic Captain album (This is Hazelville) from a few years ago. Wonder what’s happened to the follow-up to that? Maybe this album can fill that void. There’s several tracks on this album that with a bit of luck, good timing and enough promo could be massive hit singles - ‘Plans and Reveries’ is the first of these - an intricate beat, along with flickering guitar and piano accompany Ronick’s slightly nasally vocals, before kicking into a gloriously joyful chorus. ‘Breakdown’ is the single due out this week and pins its hopes on a chugging disco beat, despite lyrics portraying someone descending into the depths of a nervous breakdown. By contrast there are also more melancholic and moody tracks – ‘Silver’ is a frail and fragile acoustic number which saunters along over lilting accordion. While ‘Canyon’ – provides six and half minutes of beautiful, mournful piano led slow burner. Back to the potential chart hits and ‘Shine and ‘Run’ are both absolute belters – enormous choruses built on rousing, driving melodies. I’m not sure how much of an impact Black Gold are making in their native US, but if they were to have some sort of breakthrough here in the UK, then with such cracking tunes and an 80’s big-pop feel you could see them being bed-wettingly huge over here. Steve Claire www.blackgoldmusic.com Email Links & Comments to the editor Check the latest album releases