ALBUM REVIEWS
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ALBUM REVIEWS |
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TEENAGERSINTOKYO
SACRIFICE BACK YARD RECORDINGS 10.5.10 @www.vanguard-online.co.uk
There’s no two ways about it; TEENAGERSINTOKYO’s debut album has so much in common with the 80s that I’m frankly quite surprised it didn’t arrive in cassette form. This is not a criticism; far from it in fact, as the band wave their flag proudly and concentrate not on their musical direction, but rather on the quality of their songs. And this sound inescapably reminds me of a handful of artists: Blondie being the most noticeable. With the vocal driving force of Samantha Lim, her calmness backed by synth beats and prominent bass, it’s a sound that really captures the imagination. Let me get this straight – “Sacrifice” is not simply the first offering of a band who are trying to recreate the lost sound of their idols. While vocally we’re in the Blondie sphere, there is plenty on offer here. Across the ten tracks of this album, I honestly can’t say any of them are poor; conversely, I can’t big up one particular highlight either. What we have here is a combination of pop-synth proto-Indie that works as a whole. The tracks are varied in their instrumental layout, but blend seamlessly from one to the next through the constants that are Lim’s ethereal voice and the very 80s bass and lead guitar sound. With these elements brought together, the album is a perfect option for a chilled-out Sunday; fast and poppy enough to draw the attention, but also unobtrusive if you wander off into a conversation or need to phone for a pizza. While I can’t recommend going out to buy a specific single track, there isn’t really isn’t need to – buy the whole. www.teenagersintokyo.com |
