Prefer Red Admirals Myself
Recorded live at London's Astoria in December of 2005, this is INME's first live release and follows on from their 2005 studio album 'White Butterfly'. It will also serve as the only live recording to date that features now departed bass player Joe Morgan.
The sound quality isn't fantastic, the bass in particular often sounds muffled but it's perfectly listenable and with the crowd clearly audible it does create the feel of a live show better than a superior quality recording may have done.
INME are one of those bands that make quite affable indie/punk but they don't quite have what it takes to break into the mainstream (they have yet to trouble the top twenty) and yet they are not really hard enough to excite at the other end of the spectrum. What they do however, they do very well and this comes across clearly on this release, the songs are delivered well and as a band it's all very tight. Dave McPherson's vocals let some of the songs down, when he really lets loose his voice works well but at other times he sounds like he's whining and it detracts from the overall impact, 'White Butterfly' being a prime example.
The interaction with the crowd is not the best, at times it's a bit like one of those annoying fairground rides with classic lines such as "London let me hear you scream!". There are highlights with songs like 'Just a Glimpse' and 'Otherside', which display a welcome maturity in terms of songwriting and performance that some of the other tracks lack.
If you're not already a fan then it's unlikely that this album is going to convert you. For existing fans though this is a good representation of the band live and will no doubt bring back a few good memories.