Re-writing the Codes

It's been nearly 4 years since Death Cab have treated us to any new material, and the slow but steady hype leading to the release of Codes & Keys has certainly kept many people eager for it. The Washington boys intrigued our ears with the two teaser tracks You Are A Tourist and Home Is A Fire, but now that we have the whole product, was it worth the wait?

In a simple answer - I'm not sure. Ben Gibbard assured us for months that this record would be taking a new direction, their least "guitar-based" album yet. And he's right. There's a massive deviation from the 'pop' genre (most evident on Doors Unlocked and Unobstructed Views) that the band had employed in Narrow Stairs, and for that point it is a refreshing sound for fans, but there seems to be something missing.

Walla is superb as ever, the layers of instrumentation are smooth and intelligent, Gibbard's vocals still sound quirky and endearing like before - so what is it? My best stab at an answer is the arrangement, or rather lack of it. The tracks seem to meander rather incoherently without a direction or a purpose, and for that reason it puts the record off its spiritual course. There are generic Death Cab tracks, synth-based instrumentals, bluesy numbers... Which, as tracks on their own sound great, but as record seem a bit out of place.

Don't get me wrong, there are glorious moments in this record. The uplifting acoustics of Stay Young, Go Dancing are a signature of Death Cab's wonderful songwriting originality, and the dreamy essence of Some Boys reminds of us why many fans fell in love with them in the first place - but as a whole, it just doesn't deliver the winning formulae that a lot of people had been hoping for.

It's certainly worth downloading or ordering by all means, and no self-respecting Death Cab fan would fail to have already done so, but just don't expect their greatest work yet... That still remains firmly in 2003.


To buy the album for £7.99, visit HMV's website HERE

Visit Death Cab's website HERE for more goodies and the like, including new tour dates


K

Summer Dreaming - UPDATE

Boy have I got something special for you today.

Local band and fast-rising love of Radio 1, Two Wounded Birds have released their latest EP, Summer Dream on Vinyl Junkie via Rough Trade. The best thing about it though? It was originally set for a Japanese launch, but the band now have it scheduled for us over here in Blighty, which is top news.

The release features 6 tracks; Summer Dream, Take Me To The Beach, Night Patrol, Keep Dreaming Baby, My Lonesome and I'll Come And Get You. Combining the dulcet tones of 60's Surf with the more malevolent side of rock'n'roll, Two Wounded Birds have created what is in essence, an absolute hit parade.

Hot off the heels of their critically acclaimed Glastonbury debut, the band have really hit a stride. With backing from Radio 1's Huw Stephens and a hole host of blogs and other bands (including Brooklyn's post-punk poppers The Drums), Two Wounded Birds are looking to cement their already growing status as the new thing to love.

Who said Margate had lost it?

Visit Rough Trade now to pre-order Summer Dream HERE for £13.99

And check out their Facebook HERE for news, tracks and goodies.



*NEW UPDATE* - The good news keeps flowing, as Two Wounded Birds have released a FREE single download on their website called Guns At Dawn. Get it HERE quick - you won't be disappointed!

K

Loverboy Does It Again

After a long 3 years wait from the red-headed folkpopster, Brett Dennen's 4th studio album Loverboy has arrived in triumphant glory. Despite having been circulating for a couple of months now, the release still remains as fresh as it started, and is the latest jewel in the crown for the californian's meteoric rise from zero to hero.

And what an album it is. Long term fans of Dennen will be surprised with this record - it's a distance from the often solitary acoustic focus of his past forays, but with that abandonment comes a wealth of full-bodied, enthusiastic tracks; each a memorable pillar to the whole.

With an influx of new sounds and instruments (the cajun brass of Make You Fall In Love With Me and the retro funk synths littering Queen Of The Westside as particular favourites) are a welcome progression for Dennen, who pushes his quirky vocal ranges that one notch further this time around. It just seems more mature, more developed... More 'him'. There's no doubt Brett had a lot of fun making this record, it's eminent in many of the tracks (the opening conversation of Walk Away, Watch Me Burn very much highlighting this), and it can't help but rub off on us.

Superb stuff from the man who, until 2005, was a virtual unknown. Let's hope this ride keeps on lasting - he's onto a winner.


I shall leave you with a personal favourite from the release (and current single) - Sydney (I'll Come Running)


K.



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