Belgian rock, anyone? In amongst a fairly impressive CD collection, I can’t say that I own anything even remotely Belgian in nature. Two trips to the country didn’t unearth any amazing scenes, but then I was a tourist and looking in the wrong places. On the next visit, it’s nigh on essential to hunt down Sukilove and complete my induction. If all Belgian rock were Sukilove, then it’s a scene based on Brit Indie, churned up and made into something all together more fascinating.
Originating from Antwerp, ‘Static Moves’ is the fourth album from Sukilove, and one that has me looking forward to my first post-Christmas pay day so that I can snap up the back catalogue. Taking the best from the indie heroes of the first decade of this century, this album is a collection of often exhilarating missives, combining the rock ‘n’ roll sensibilities of Black Rebel Motorcycle Club with the ominous, acerbic leer of The Cooper Temple Clause and the inventiveness of Liars. This combination has produced multi-layered, experimental songs that are sometimes haunting, sometimes so dynamic that they have more impact than a New Year’s Eve fist fight.
It takes only half a listen before the “we’re all just meat” mantra on ‘Fear’ takes you completely. Happily enough, said mantra continues and turns into a march, before finally peaking as some sort of aural invasion, complete with screams and an unexpected piano-led fade out.
‘Choose Your Gods’ is kind of like The Charlatans (specifically ‘A Man Needs To Be Told’), but with added urgency and a full-frontal assault. ‘Memory as a Skull’ begins with a whisper, and descends into an industrial panic attack that Liars would be envious of. ‘4AM’ is creepy insomnia, like the self-doubt that you imagine will one day destroy Radiohead. In and amongst the busy track, it’s all about isolation.
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The lyrics are great – original sounding and different. It’s not all about easy rhymes and obvious contradictions. There’s defiance, aggression, fragility and fear all mixed in rather brilliantly. It’s a solid band performance, where they really are the sum of their parts – no more so on the frantic ‘Rebel,’ which is organised, fascinating, glorious chaos contained in a song.
Fingers crossed there will be more UK dates in 2010, as I was unfortunate enough to miss them last time round. ‘Static Moves’ suggests a monumental stage show. It was recorded over two weeks and yet feels more complete than some albums that have taken several years to achieve.
A broody, occasionally threatening album that takes what is familiar, kicks it around the playground a bit and returns it with added invention. With this album, Sukilove have gone some way to slamming a red hot poker through the eye of a national stereotype that makes it seem like perhaps it’s the Brits that are the boring ones, after all.
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