Plenty of applause and cheers.
Pretty chaotic indie reverence is the order of the day for Land of Talk and their ‘Applause Cheer Boo Hiss’ album that has managed to bowl the NME over so much that they are planning to move to Canada to be closer to the band. That seems like a bold move although Michael Moore has always sung the countries praises, particularly in comparison to the gun control and medicinal practices that Canada offers opposed to America but that is probably not a hot topic of conversation for an indie review!
We say album but of course, its really an EP that has had a few extra tracks shoved onto the UK release to expand it which usually just means that in an attempt to justify the higher price of UK releases, record labels shove some poorer quality tracks on at the end of the original release but this hasn’t really turned out to be the case in this situation. Its already been reviewed by R13 before this re-release and whilst many of Chris original points stand, it does show the different views a separate reviewer can take on the matter.
‘Speak To Me Bones’ is the lead track and it sets the records stall out very early on with a pounding drive and screaming vocals peppering the song and its going to be a love or hate kind of song for many people, such is its intensity and range.
The lead vocals of Elizabeth Powell are stamped all over the lead track and her wide range and impassioned vocals make for a lot of enjoyment and add an extra dimension to the crackling indie fuzz and squalor that make up the backing track. The repeated screaming coda to the song helps build a dynamic sense of tension that is immediately released when the song comes to an abrupt halt.
One noticeable element to this album is that there are many moments that sound familiar but they are only fleeting and before you get the chance to nail the comparison and state that Land Of Talk sounds a lot like such and such, the song flips and goes off in an entirely different direction.
The bonus tracks are definitely from the same material as the main body of the release and ‘Young Bridge’ is positively poppy, well as poppy as Land Of Talk are going to get and they manage to sound like The Cardigans being put through a heavy lot of distortion and it works really well and for once, the bonus tracks are actually of substantial benefit and substance so three cheers to One Little Indian for that!
It may not be a reason to up sticks and move to Canada but its definitely a good reason to head down to your local indie emporium or get downloading online as Land Of Talk serve up a highly enjoyable record.
To read R13’s earlier review of this release, click here
Video for ‘Speak To Me Bones’
Live performance of ‘Young Bridge’