Forward March, Onwards and Upwards.
Portsmouth quintet The Strange Death of Liberal England have certainly steered clear of the norm, thus avoiding certain stereotypes that are so common in today's music industry. Having found a unique originality, not just in their music but their entire philosophy, the band are rapidly making a name for themselves for all the right reasons. 'Forward March' is the band's debut release, and makes for a very interesting listen indeed.
The band's apparent desire to be unique is visible before the record is even played. While most albums are commonly around ten to twelve tracks in length, the quintet have opted for the rather bizarre number of eight tracks. Why? Who can say. However, this reviewer is a firm believer in quality rather than quantity, and this album upholds this rhetoric.
Opener 'Modern Folk Song' sets the scene, with folk-style guitar opening and a vocal style that you will either love or hate, before progressing and introducing a delightful electric guitar riff and subtle percussion, gradually building towards a frenetic ending that sounds absolutely huge. Recent single 'Oh Solitude' however, is less grandiose and acts as a punchy wake up call after the dreamy theatrics of the opener. 'A Day Another Day' returns to the shimmering guitar arpeggios to begin with, culminating in an abrasive and layered chorus with regimental drumbeat, while 'An Old Fashioned War' marks a dark twist in content, both lyrically and musically; disjointed melodies and minor scales create a bitter and melancholy atmosphere.
It's at this point where the album falters slightly. Having heard four great opening tracks that vary in atmosphere and style, yet that are all excellent in their own right, you can't help but feel disappointed by 'Mozart on 33' and 'I Saw Evil'. 'Mozart on 33' is particularly forgettable. It's not a bad song, not at all, it just doesn't live long in the memory; it's easily overlooked due to the quality of the other tracks. 'I Saw Evil' is also lacking somewhat, although it does have an excellent, epic sounding ending.
The final two tracks mark a return to the quality of the openers. 'God Damn Broke and Broken Hearted' is led by a haunting piano melody, vocal harmonies and dissonant guitars that somehow sound great in the mix. Album closer 'Summer Gave us Sweets but Autumn Wrought Division' is simply fantastic. Purely instrumental, it's a beautiful soundscape created using all manner of instruments, from glockenspiels to haunting guitars, all drenched in modulating effects such as delay, phase and flange. The musical texture is so thick and interesting it really is captivating. An album highlight for sure.
With such a unique and progressive sound, it would be criminal to pigeon hole this hugely musically talented group. However, I would recommend them to any fans of Arcade Fire for sure. With such a huge sound, I'm very intrigued as to how they fair live. Based on this album, I will make it a priority to find out.