Travis - '12 Memories' (Independiente)
3/5
By: Toby L
Pity. The conversion of Travis from Oasis-like bar-rockers, through to melancholic chin-strokers, and - now - introspective put-the-world-to-righters has been a gradual one, and a subtle move prompting much reticence from those that love to not love - oh yes: the press.
For, weren't the Glaswegian charmers a foursome dedicated to the sweet tone of lilting, infectious melody, and carefully affecting soul-indie-pop? Now, the formula seems really rather different. Gone are the soaring choruses. And goodbye to the boyish smirks. 'I don't want to be like you anymore,' vocalist Fran Healy perhaps sings to his past self in an affecting, cymbals-doused 'Paperclips' during '12 Memories', the band's fourth LP to date.
Now, the tone is earnest, reflective, political and very, very emotional. Not bad per se, but arguably disappointing when you come to rely on the band that crafted such a moving, subtle epic as 'The Man Who' - our low-key, non-aloof answer to that Oxford quintet in the way of heartfelt, downbeat beauty.
To be fair, '12 Memories' is doused and drenched in prettiness; Healy's vocal remains a minimal, soothing and sumptuous, mid-level timbre, there's lashings of piano, a cascading of occasional, heart-rending peaks ('Happy To Hang Around', complete with an almost rock-out, guitar-driven lashing), and a few searing, melodic stand-outs (the Byrds-y 'Love Will Come Through' and recent single 'Re-Offender').
But the punch and anthemic quality of prior favourites - 'More Than Us', 'All I Wanna Do Is Rock' - is no longer present. This is a serious record, fuelled by little of the quirks that defined the past. Unless you're longing against an intelligently voiced and stated 'Peace The F**k Out' or 'The Beautiful Occupation' - two such intense tirades against present worldly injustices - then it's unlikely to make the heart pump faster.
Pity, once again, because - with age - Travis are enveloping into a far more embracing, less theatrical and well-presented batch of established songwriters indeed. All they need to do now, however, is just watch that their burgeoning maturity doesn't hinder the initial spark that endeared us to them in the first place.
Artists in this article: Travis
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