Blood Red Shoes - Fire Like This

There's a review of Blood Red Shoes first album on this blog somewhere. A positive review where I announce their arrival into the bigger leagues and proclaim them taking a huge leap forward.

This, as it transpired, was merely wishful thinking. They toured endlessly and released heaps of singles but ultimately failed to really capture the attentions of a 'wider market'.

I could be repeating myself in this review then as Fire Like This has every chance of breaking through. Although to my own personal chagrin the bulk of this release feels like more of the same from the Brighton duo. I'm still wishing for more singing from Laura-Mary and less squawking from Steven.

The are a few standouts in the latter part of the album Heartsink is very much in the full on rock BRS spirit whereas Follow The Lines and One More Empty Chair mix the pace and tone a bit and they're all the better for it.

I hope this pair can attract the wider audience they deserve, it certainly won't be for a lack of effort. It does feel a bit make or break though...

http://www.myspace.com/bloodredshoes
www.mekongdelta.co.uk

Blood Red Shoes - Live: 16th Apr 2008

A succinct appraisal of the two support acts tonight from two gig attending friends - 1984 (Gallic three piece with one tune) Friend 1, "France Ferdinand"; Them Amazing Babies (from Newcastle with no tunes) Friend 2 - mishearing singer "Did he say,'Them Disabled Babies'?". Quite possibly...

So to Blood Red Shoes who keep us waiting an interminable amount of time for no real reason it seems. Fears that they've gone for a few jars around town and had the soft southern shite kicked out of their pretty heads are eventually dispelled though and although they tentatively take to the stage like a pair of frightened rabbits Laura-Mary and Steven soon find their stride. Opening with 'It's Getting Boring By The Sea' one of the catchiest moments from debut album 'Box Full of Secrets' the pace doesn't really relent for the full set bar a few gasps for breathe from the energetic duo. 'You Bring Me Down' and 'I Wish I was Someone Better' keep the tempo high.

Watching Blood Red Shoes is a bit like watching tennis in that your eyes are always darting back and forth as they thrash on the guitar and drums respectively and duel with the vocals. The album's fantastic and live they make even more sense as they manage to make an impossibly loud (metal!?) sound at times. It's a a genuine pleasure they they seem bemused whilst humbly smiling when the crowd claps and sings along. They've got a modesty which will probably be lose it's soft edge over time but right now it's translated into an enthusiasm for simply playing their album to the people who've bought it.

Returning to the stage for an encore they play off the setlist and take requests from the floor. To be totally honest they pair look knackered and it's with a relief I suspect that they finish up and promise to come back sooner than the 18 months since their last visit. Good, can't wait.

www.bloodredshoes.co.uk
www.mekongdelta.co.uk

Blood Red Shoes - Box of Secrets

I’ve been keen on hearing more from Blood Red Shoes for a long time. They’ve been building up to this point, their debut album release. But then there’s that knot in the stomach when the album comes through. The question comes up, rears it’s bloody head…what if it’s not that good?

I’ll tell you now it is that good. But it might not be that apparent on initial listening. Possibly down to the very fact that the album’s been a long time coming and a slew of singles and Myspace songs and labels down the line BRS have fixed a series of delicious pop songs in my head. So I’m approaching it from that angle – I want sardonic, brassy pop, feed me the catchy songs.

The album’s really canny though and drip feeds the new tunes amongst the familiar ones sparingly. Two or three listens and the newer songs like “Try Harder” and “ Say Something Say Anything” which grab you by through on first listen become every bit as catchy and as those better known numbers “ADHD” and “It’s Getting Boring By The Sea” but retain their vibrancy. One slight gripe, and it’s a purely personal subjective thing, I prefer the songs where Laura Mary takes the leads vocals over Steve’s mainly down to her laconic, apparently dismissive delivery. Cleverly knowing and sharp as a tack.

All told Blood Red Shoes are a pair heading squarely and rapidly into the ‘mainstream’ and as one who’s followed their progress with a keen ear and an accompanying whistle “Box of Secrets” is the ideal record to take them there.

http://www.myspace.com/bloodredshoes
www.mekongdelta.co.uk