The Cold Cut

Rating: "Anthemic Music For Dummies"

British Sea Power. Even the band name has something totally underwhelming about it. And true to form, two albums in, the Brighton four-piece have yet to make a noticeable impact on indie (with album numero 2,'Open Season', charting at number 13). That may be all about to change, and so will their genre, from indie, to stadium rock. My experience with 'Open Season' was limited, but very enjoyable, and even still it pales in comparison with 'Do You Like Rock Music'.

This is an epic album. Many bloggers have already drawn comparisons between their updated sound and Arcade Fire, and you would be hard pressed to deny these. However, Neon Bible took things to their natural conclusion: their sound couldn't get any bigger, and there was something noticeably absent, lost in translation from their Funeral days to the 'bigger is better' Neon Bible. British Sea Power, on the other hand, are a completely different ball game. Rather than chucking in every instrument and sound that they can find, the band have obviously taken a more careful approach to updating their sound, and this has really paid off. The predecessor, 'Open Season', was a solid album, but not quite the Mercury-nominated album that many people thought it could be. You have to feel sorry for British Sea Power, when Arcade Fire seemingly pulled the rug from underneath them, taking the road to success with a very similar sound. Well, one good turn deserves another, and the time has come for British Sea Power.

Enough of the comparisons. This album has some brilliant songs. Take 'Waving Flags', the first single (out January 7th), which just may go the distance, giving them their first top ten single. The sound is big, with chanting choirs, violins et al, except they haven't gone so far as throwing a hurdy-gurdy in for good measure. Next comes 'Atoms', an anthemic mid-album track which opens with some quaint piano, which sharply cuts out, and then the trademark angular guitars open the floor. Another highlight is 'No Lucifer', a deep song with some questionable lyrics (which I'll let you work out!):
"Come on, allons y, let's go
We can always just say no
To the anti-aircraft crew
The boys from the Hitler Youth"

British Sea Power aren't your average band. Reviews of their live shows are littered with tales of their 'special' onstage antics, including assorted plant displays and a giant bear called Ursine Ultra (more on that one here). And you could say that there are many distinguishable factors on 'Do You Like Rock Music', setting them apart from their counterparts. First an foremost, we have the fact that they can reel off an album of this quality, no questions asked. Secondly, there's no denying their talent: the previous two albums have been met with widespread critical acclaim, but disappointing figures in the US. Could this be their crossover album? I truly, deeply, madly hope so.

It feels odd to say this now but this just might be- whisper it- the album of 2008, or at least a contender. For the band at least, I feel that this year might be like- to quote Stephen Spielberg when he won his Oscar- 'a cold drink after a long walk in the desert'. Do I Like Rock Music? Hell yes!

British Sea Power- Waving Flags
British Sea Power- Atom

'Do You Like Rock Music' can be bought here...