Voices Of Animals & Men (Cd) [CD]

I'm usually rather cautious when I've looked forward to an album for so long that I'll be disappointed to find, as so often in the past, a couple of singles, two or three decent enough songs, six fillers and a 'meaningful' closing ballad. Something about the Young Knives made me much more optimistic, and wasn't I just right to be.

Based in Oxford and dressed by Oxfam, I am stunned into endless euphemism by these marvellous three kings of English indie-pop.

English is a word that will be used in just about every review of these boys and their work, and it's not hard to hear why. It travels effortlessly between wit, whimsy and wallop. It makes you dream of bunking off work on a hot-hot summer (Weekends and Bleakdays), laying in a corn field dressed in tweed and drinking scrumpy. "The Decision" is a delicious, ingenious piece of insanity that teaches you how, when all else fails, you can still be the Prince of Wales. And there's still time for a fight with your girlfriends dad under the security lights, thanks to the raucous anthem "She's Attracted To". "Coastguard" is dark and clever, and you can feel the unfluence of Gang of Four's Andy Gill who produced the album. "Loughborough Suicide", despite it's deseperate subject matter is one of the most uplifting songs I've ever heard, like when you felt joy at how damn good the Smiths were at despondency. The lyric "I will never go down fighting" has been in my head for a month.

The Knives are sharp, and their music is too. It's uplifting to know that amidst the pompous herion-chic look-at-me-what-a-rock-star-I-am bands bloating the music scene these days with their inspid mewlings, someone like the Young Knives can knock out a piece of perfect pop in brown corduroy and still get down the Dog and Duck for a real ale and a game of dominoes before Pete Doherty has even arrived for his court appearance.

This album by the 3 piece band who are now based in Oxford and signed to Transgressive Records (the same stable as ladyfuzz and regina spektor and such musical luminaries) have put together an album full of English whit and good music.

I used to work with Oli and House of Lords (so named because "he's big and all all important decisions have to go through him") in HMV in Oxford and know that their musical interests are as varied as this album is impressive.

It's a well crafted record with some amazing songs:

Part Timer -

The album starts with a riff driven, high tempo affair. And sets the tone for much of the album. very much the bread and butter of the band. the lead vocals being taken by Henry (guitar) and with the usual inserts from House, its a good, raucus opening.

The Decision -

the song that made me love the band. with some of the greatest lyrics. "i'm the prince of Wales, i'm the prince of Wales and if all the else fails i am the prince of Wales" is a case in point.

Weekends and Bleak Days (hot summer) -

the latest album released just before this album. It's a great song looking at working through the summer, being fed up of having to and then bunking off. The video for this is excellent - as are all their videos. The song itself is classic indie pop. I really great song with a chorus that will be sung at all the festivals!

In the pink -

It's a slower-paced affair. with a nice plodding beat and a nice tune. for some reason it harks back to 1970's rock to me. it comes across as a little more sinister than the rest.

Mystic Energy -

a great song that would fit into many an indie bands reportoire. With Henry taking the lead again on vocals and a nice swift pace it's a good one. The chorus is one to jump swiftly up and down to!

Here comes the Ruour Mill -

This is possibly my favourite on the album. it features some of the best lyrics. Great building of the song and some nice inserts from House. Again the Chorus is one to seriously rock out to!

Tailors -

Tailors starts off with a beat built out of the sound of scissors and slowly progresses to a super-grass esque friendly tune. As twee as possible the song is sweet with the lyrics "button button button button. needle needle needle needle. cotton cotton cotton cotton." being a favourite of mine!

Half Timer -

This short moment that includes some hilarious lines 'spoken' by house. its more of an interlude in a jazz style. but its another great track.

She's Attracted to -

A great song about meeting the parents. not the film. the ordeal. This song is amazing to see live and translates well to record. "you were screaming at your mum and i was punching your dad" is an awesome lyric! a stand out track!

Dialing Darling -

is my favourite track. the middle section where house starts to speak. using lyrics from a song i cant remember but recognise. its absolutely perfect. i love it.

Another Hollow Line -

A mid paced song that is again packed full of good lyrics.

Coastgard -

is a faster paced song with a very strong classical indie feel. less poppy than many other songs.

Loughborough Suicide -

is a song about someone who always tlaks about attempting suicide but will never do it. very wry and whitty lyrics. a great song on the album.

Tremblings of Trails -

The end of the album is anothger great song. a slower paced but equally indie.

Its diffcicult toexpress how well this album works. it hangs together perfectly and is very well produced and well mixed as well. It's an amazing album by a group that will be big in the next few years.

i urge you to buy this. now please!

x

Initialy it struck me as good album that had a few standout tunes on it. But the more I listened to it the more it consumed me. It's an awsome album. And unlike a lot of 'new' music I dont seem to get bored with it.

It's probably my favourite album of the last 12 months.

It's punky, quirky, balsy, inteligent but uncomplicated.

A real gem.

Not a lot of point describing the tunes as you can go check em out on you tube.