Ex-Ex-Lion Tamers, now Wild Palms, this gaggle of southern reprobates are one of my tips for 2010. Not just for their obvious ability to electrically charge the room within seconds of firing off the set's scattered drum patterns and lacerating guitar riffs. Although this definitely helps. Not even due to the fact that the one 'hit' tune in their armoury, recently issued single 'Over Time', is a relatively shiny misnomer found in an otherwise musical blizzard of a set. Although this song's change of pace and angular style (yes it's still around) punctuates with stark contrast the less well known songs. In a good way you understand.
Mostly it's because they seem to have a spirit and musicality that draws the listener in. The tribal tumble of 'Deep Dive' for instance has a yearning and warmth and gives you a real urge to jerk and sway, which is a welcome change to the moping immobile 'nod-dance' style adopted by the indie glitterati. There are some songs in the set which feel less realized as if they're searching for their own sound which is fair enough I guess as, quite frankly, Wild Palms are prepared to try and mix it up rather than relying on a workable formula. To paraphrase Woody Allen, 'If you’re not failing now and again, you’re not doing anything very innovative.'
So it’s a B+ then. Which translates as bloody good effort, entertaining with room for improvement. Like The Fall at their least ramshackle. Can't say fairer than that.
www.myspace.com/wearewildpalms
www.mekongdelta.co.uk
No comments:
Post a Comment