Although a product of producer Jim Riley's Ranscombe Studios in Rochester, TOURISTE'S "What Are We" EP is some way removed from the Medway Delta garage rock sounds the likes of The Buff Medways and Len Price 3 have laid down at said recording establishment.
In fact, this sharing of consoles appears to be pretty much where any similarities end, for Touriste are jostling for space in the currently mighty crowded indie-stadium mob, all of who are keen to glide in on the success of Coldplay's expansive, yearning angst-rock.
Touriste even go so far as to admit to most of their obvious reference points (Snow Patrol, Radiohead and Chris Martin's boys) on their website (www.touriste.co.uk ), but a few listens to their fine debut EP suggests that - like Bristol's equally likely Undercut - they are good enough to begin hiding the hearts they currently wear on their collective sleeves.
The title track is an impressive opener and gives you some idea what to expect. It's big, outreaching pop that smoulders and burns nicely over te course of four minutes or so. Admittedly, the vocals employ some of the currently de rigeur Buckley/ Martin falsetto inflections, but the song itself is dissatisfied and propulsive enough to win through and it carves a niche for itself in your brain after three or four listens.
|
Although no great deviations stylistically, the ensuing three tunes are also performed with skill and are all highly competent going on inspired. "Shocks" benefits for having its' melody picked out on ( I think) electric piano, while the slightly lispy, Cockney-accented vocals are attractive and memorable, as is the "You're messed up, you're not quite right" line that repeatedly appears in the chorus.
"Too Far," meanwhile, is a tad warmer in feel and has a nice line in wry'n'cynical (opening line: "I won't write you a love song until you break my heart") which suggests Touriste recognise humour every bit as much as alienation, and the closing "Easier" comes wrapped up in resignation, optimism and jaywalking bassline motifs and comes up on the rails as maybe the best track of all.
Touriste, then, are quite probable contenders in the near future. Their expressive and anthemic guitar pop is cut from a cloth that's familiar to fashionistas right now, yet still sounds like it will wear well down the line. Search out "What Are We" and try it on for size.
|
