THE MESS HALL – FOR THE BIRDS

Bell was the first single taken from The Mess Hall’s third album, For The Birds, and yes, it was a harbinger of what was to come. Jed Kurzel and Cec Condon has ingested a significant dose of Beck, with side-orders of Eels for good measure. The driving rock rhythms that The Mess Hall made their name with on 2007’s Devil’s Elbow are still evident, but they have endeavoured to take them down a few different roads with varying degrees of success. While Bell veers too closely to Beck, the distorted-stomp of My Villain borrows a touch of Tom Waits junk-yard percussion but keeps that Mess Hall feel and drive; and when they really mix it up on the slow and atmospheric Silhouettes you can see them grasping some of the dynamics that are essential on a good album. Bare is the album’s apex, an epic six minutes of restrained drive, building and finally unleashing, while wearing their influences clearly: “The three things you need / If you’re ever on your own / Chuck Berry, Havana moon and a home”. This will make for a fine summer road-trip soundtrack.

*** 1/2