Review by Jon Birch
Listen Up Manchester rating: 7/10
In 2010, Everything Everything were at the fore-front of a new wave of British artists pedalling Super intelligent Art Pop. Formed and based in Manchester, the four piece band met at Salford University and are led by singer and lyricist Jonathan Higgs. Their debut, Man Alive, was nominated for the Mercury Prize, an indication that it wasn’t necessarily a record with mass-appeal.
Whether a conscious decision or a natural progression, this has been addressed to a degree on the follow up. By simplifying the melodies and ideas on many tracks, they have negotiated the ‘Difficult Second Album’ and the result is a record that is much more accessible. Second single Kemosabe is the best example of this and with its big falsetto chorus, its already a radio favourite. Taking its title from The Lone Ranger’s faithful companion Tonto’s catchphrase, the song is a somewhat despairing plea to a friend (or perhaps an alibi) in a time of need.
The opening few tracks (including the aforementioned Kemosabe and lead single Cough Cough repeatedly warning, ‘I’m coming alive’) are strong but there are too many misses, too many layers and electronic beeps and blips bouncing off each other to make this a classic album. However, when it is a hit, its on the money, culminating in the trio of Undrowned, _Arc_ and Armourland at the heart of the record.
There are other highlights here (Duet, is well crafted and accessible) but when a band purposefully tries to sound like nothing that’s been heard before, there’s often a feeling of over complication for the sake of it. Often the simplest sounds are the best and when they concentrate on one (or perhaps a small number of ideas) in a track, the result is often intelligent pop music which, if still not quite for the masses, is definitely a step forward.
Favourite Track: Kemosabe
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