Turin Brakes - The Optimist LP

It took me a while to get used to Olly Knights' piercing, nasal voice, but after a few listens this is now a very pleasing album to listen to. I really don't get the Radiohead comparisons though, a few years ago that was a popular lazy way of describing any band that used guitars. More accurately, Turin Brakes come from the acoustic, folky singer-songwriter tradition. Both Knights and partner Gale Paridjanian play acoustic guitars, in an interesting variety of styles giving a glittering backdrop to their earnest vocal harmonies. The first few songs are consistently well written, starting with the gently reflective "Feeling Oblivion" The lyrics are often wilfully obscure but usually interesting, for example "Future Boy" - what the heck's that all about? There's just a slight dip in quality in the middle, but it finishes beautifully with the relaxed moping of "The Optimist".

Hmm, must get hold of the follow up "Ether Song" at some point.

December 4, 2003

8 out of 10

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