BLACKCHORDS – BLACKCHORDS

From the opening strains, this debut from Victorian troupe Blackchords offers up an intriguing bent. Their epic alternative folk rock sounds emanate from somewhere East of The National and Coldplay, with a penchant for the one-two disco beat that is so much a signature sound of the mid-noughties alternative scene. At first this is a disappointment – vocalist/pianist Nick Milwright yelps his way through the chorus of At World’s End, imploring us; “come on, turn it off, cut it out”, and this reviewer was tempted to do so. However, the material does then venture into more rewarding territory, the spare and weary These Lights offering a bitter pill early on and is quite affecting with its warbling strings and walking chords. British and European influences become very apparent throughout, particularly in the calmly pretty December and the disco-stomp of Pretty Little Thing. Though the songs herein are varied and well executed, one can’t help wishing for a little more edge to the proceedings – the fairly safe production and polite delivery of the material tends to let the music slip into the realm of the token a few times. It’s not bad, in fact quite a listenable affair; though perhaps with a little more daring in the studio or some more brilliant shades of light and dark in the lyrics and melodies, this could be a very good record.

**1/2