It’s been a long wait for The Maccabees fourth album ‘Marks To Prove It’ (they announced the record way back in 2013) — but here it is at last.
Eleven tracks, reflective and strong.
The London (UK) five piece are often compared to Foals — in other words, they produce fun indie-rock that is filled with lightness and feeling.
We were sent a copy of Marks To Prove It. Here’s what we thought:
The album begins with a crash and the title track ‘Marks to Prove It’…
The guitar has a fit of the screechies and fizzes like frantic soda… So the vocal hollers in unison.
But it soon all calms down to a palatable sun ripened pluminess.
The chubbiness in general (of rhythms and bass) soothes — and helps to overcome any earlier anxieties you might have had. The overall effect is undiluted cheeriness.
The second track, ‘Kamakura’ is one of several stand-out tracks.
It begins in pensive mood like a sweetly faded & much-loved photograph left out in the light for too long.
The down-beat is insistent and it rumbles along like a trolley with a problem. But, otherwise, this is gloriously addictive.
‘Ribbon Road’ has a mysterious edge of gravel and chips. Like your Nan’s favourite china cup.
The percussion is soft and dewy. Chewy almost. And the vocals rise and fall like a lover’s blanket.
‘Spit It Out’ is even more sentimental. With a big bass groan. And a spark of piano. The voice here is parched. Almost nonexistent. And praying.
But things come gradually to life. And when they do, the pace is almost urgent. This one of our favourite songs. It show-cases the stunning dynamic range of Orlando Weeks (vocals.) And the guitar work is amazing too. The song develops like a Russian nursery rhyme. Full of sad-passion, longing and unprovoked apprehension.
‘Slow Sun’ is another crucial number. With a stepping stone commute of beats and a golden trumpet voluntary by Mike Davis. This number reminded us of Manfred Mann’s version of Mighty Quinn. That same kinda bruising bass, comprehensive percussion and walky-talky, acoustic voice.
The album concludes with the wonderful ‘Dawn Chorus’ which has psychedelic influences and contains beautiful moments of muted trumpet. (Who says Tijuana Brass is dead?)
If you like mellow melodies, meditating lyrics and wondrous folk-indie rock — then you will admire the artistry on this carefully crafted album.
The Maccabees are a Flagship British indie-rock band. And this is their finest output yet…
Words: @neilmach 2015 ©
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