Tango in the Attic – Bank Place Locomotive Society (Keep Calm)
3/5
By: Richard Brant
They cite Paul Simon as one of their songwriting heroes, but you can’t help but wonder how much influence Tango In The Attic have drawn from another band who more recently invited everyone to join in with the Kwassa Kwassa festivities.
If it wasn’t for the immediately lazy, almost spoken intonation supplied by singer Daniel Craig (a James Bond joke here would just be highly irresponsible) that immediately kicks in at the start of ‘Seven Second Stare’ you might well think your iPod had shuffled to a copy of Contra, but what becomes clear for better or worse is that Tango in the Attic are not as clinical as Vampire Weekend. Keyboard chords ring out in an upbeat manor accompanied by messy indie spluttering guitars, possibly mimicking the confused situation leading to our protagonists need to leave.
‘Off To…’ leads away from the portrayed confusion of ‘Seven Second Stare’ and on to the train to nowhere. It’s the kind of track that Tango in the Attic do well, keeping evident the afrobeat influence, yet injecting enough of their lazy indie charm to not coax one’s mind in to comparison. Dancing guitar cycles flow over a train track-like beat, while the chorus delivers that pop hook that rounds off a great little 2.29 nugget.
Echoing vocals surrounded by stabbing guitars and a steady beat start ‘Sketch by Quentin Blake,’ a journey of discovery for our main character, who with a melodious chorus can now “…see, so clear, it’s where I belong, so I saunter along like I’m meant to now.” It’s another great track with their lazy highland indie spin stamped on top.
‘Healthy Distraction’ has a day dream quality as a nonchalant key board chimes in with a relaxed care free hook, illustrative of the lyrics description of a stagnant individual with no clear direction. It’s indie pop, but the keyboard interjections and the chanting vocals towards the end still give a clear nod to the African influence.
One of the shortest yet most intriguing tracks of the album ‘One Step Ahead’ has a Peter Gabriel-like experimental quality, a “clanky” guitar tune is surrounded by watery, wispy, sounds of synth, guitar and glockenspiel. The accustomed lazy voice has almost become spectral as it whispers “No more crying, so much closer now” over the top of Kele Okereke-style synthetic drums.
Contrary to this, ‘Jackanory’ and later ‘Whiskey in the Wind’ are back to direct competition with artists that have trod afrobeat boards before and although in essence amiable tracks in places, the vocals and lyrics don’t have the gravitas to move to the fore and at times get lost under the multitude of exchanging keyboard and guitar riffs. Further efforts such as ‘Blunderground’ and ‘She Stole the Summer’ fair better though, being more suited to Daniel Craig’s laid-back vocals and full of catchy charm.
‘Left Side’ displays a darker quality that has been otherwise absent throughout that the ongoing lead guitar pulls to the fore, explaining a story of lost love that can only be recreated within dreams and frustratingly no longer externally projected. This is an undoubted move away from the afrobeat influence in to separate territory of Tango in the Attic’s own making which suites them well.
‘The Letting Go’ brings proceedings to a close. At almost six minutes, it is perhaps a bit too long, but provides one final long burst of the amalgamation of indie pop and afrobeat that has been so jumbled throughout.
At times, unfortunately, it’s hard not to hark back to Vampire Weekend’s crisp acute sound seen particularly on their first album. When Tango in the Attic step on their toes, it’s obvious who comes out on top, but when these boys play to their strengths, sprinkling their indie pop style with a portion of afrobeat instead of a dousing, they come in to their own. What strikes me about Bank Place Locamotive is that it’s the work of a band full of ideas, without a clear direction as yet. There are glimpses of some really innovative concepts, for instance in ‘One Step Ahead,’ and I’m sure a more focused second effort will be on the cards.
Artists in this article: Tango in the Attic
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