ALBUM REVIEWS
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ALBUM REVIEWS |
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We Fell To Earth
WE FELL TO EARTH INSTEREO 30.11.09 @www.vanguard-online.co.uk
This album showcases the new project of Richard File - formerly of U.N.K.L.E. as he teams up with American born vocalist Wendy Rae Fowler. The pair met through mutual acquaintance Josh Homme at his studio is the Californian desert; and are currently on tour with next big things The Big Pink. File’s influence from previous work is obvious and his contribution creates something that isn’t exactly a huge departure from his days in the U.N.K.L.E. knob-twiddling fraternity; although that’s certainly no bad thing in my book. Eerie swathes of electronica are coupled with intensely breathy vocals - duties which are shared between the two protagonists. The male/female contrast, along with the dark foreboding atmosphere sounds not dissimilar to that recent album by new kids on the block The XX. File steps up to provide vocals on brooding opener ‘Spin This Town’ – a claustrophobic, swirling slow burning three and a half minutes which set the tone for the rest of the album. ‘Lights Out’ is a bit more up and at ‘em with a pulsing hypnotic beat - this time coupled with a haunting vocal from Wendy Rae. I find the female vocal tracks to be the most engaging – and I think these always provided stand out tracks on U.N.K.L.E. albums past. Other highlights are the delicate, crystalline ‘Careful What You Wish For’ and ‘Sunshadow’ – File and Rae participate in call and response vocals over a sultry oppressive looped beat. New single ‘Deaf’ is the final track and Rae indulges in some Liz Fraser of Cocteau Twins style ethereal warbling as the track ebbs and flows through an otherworldly cacophony of sound. We Fell To Earth certainly aren’t going to be staging any stadium gigs any time soon, but if you like your music to build serenely, grow with each repeated listen and challenge musical boundaries then you’ll find that this fits the bill. www.myspace.com/wefelltoearth |
