The rum may be sour, but the music is not
Chiming in with their debut album Totem Bells is Cambridge quartet Twelve Clay Feet. With all members sharing the influence of 20th Century superstars Led Zeppelin, this rising British outfit could have easily fallen by the wayside had they been nostalgia-driven emulators. However, their band members may continue to hold Zeppelin and their other 70s/80s era prog rock inspirations close to their hearts, but Twelve Clay Feet's alternative rock sound certainly shines through effectively thanks to heavy doses of indie and blues.
Opener Cornfed builds moodily before tearing into a furious chorus. Returning to the effect-heavy verses, Twelve Clay Feet immediately illustrate their handling of structural balance and it is certainly a musical weapon that will prove to be valuable. The gorgeously psychedelic harmony that introduces and concludes Tribal Girls is a beautiful touch, allowing for the Cambridge composers to paint a delightfully dreamy canvas.
All of the album's songs wield strong vocal hooks that give real climax to each chorus, supported by the tight instrumental forces operating under Ian Jeffs' vocal lines. Songs like Sarajevo Bombs and Sour Rum may bring down the pace of the album considerably, but excitement still lingers in the air, with the expectation that the music will explode back into a frenzy of bombarding drums and blustery guitars at any moment. The tempo begins to power up with the acoustically-tinted Casino Rules fielding a particularly memorable chorus, repeated substantially to embed itself in your memory but without being excessively forceful.
The group's indie vibe surfaces on tracks such as Still Life and the funkier Circus Tricks. The latter is further spruced up by guitarist Jay Jeffs' lead parts, which play off bassist Ollie Porsa's fanciful foundations superbly. Red Moon draws the album to a close in an unexpected manner, with the slide guitar playing dominating the track before finally bowing out in a united a cappella fashion.
Totem Bells is a stimulating full-length release that holds up well amongst a congested alternative rock/indie scene. Boasting catchy choruses and competent songwriting, Twelve Feet Clay has an enticing style that has been deeply shaped by the musical inspirations of decades past. A promising debut and a release that will help this developing band cement themselves as 'ones to watch'.