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Shibuya Crossings – DOYA (Dependant on Your Alter-Ego)
Review by Danny Fella
Shibuya Crossings are back
on the underground scene with their second release ‘DOYA’,
which once again shows their impressive capabilities as
musicians at mixing a variety of styles and influences
into a contemporary mix of synth laden know-how. Overall
this album is skilfully arranged. Perhaps Ian Escario’s
drumming could be slightly more developed, but bassist
Rob Toshman gives each track its definition, while
Gareth Evans jams away on his guitar; a sound
occasionally reminiscent of the greats such as AC/DC. I
mean just listen to "If it isn’t Getting Better". An
interesting comparison, but then these guys do take
their inspiration from a wide variety of sources. We can
hear traces of 90’s Indie, American-Pop and at times you
can even hear shadows of bands as far-flung as Blur,
Maxïmo Park and Radiohead. What’s more, such tracks as
Gamla Stan could have believably been written in the
1960’s.
Opening track At Eight in a Spanish Bar sets the bar
high for the rest of the album, with likable riffs and
aptly applied synths creating an ethereal yet somehow
cheerful sound; very relaxing. Equally the first single
release, "Take It Out on Me", is a rocking track filled
with catchy bass hooks leading to a well-crafted climax.
It takes no effort to listen to this album. It
consistently pleases the senses, strolling along
comfortably in the background.
Lyrically speaking this is a quality album with each
song tackling its own issue, and coupled with the
intriguing quality to front man Declan Harrington’s
voice, this helps the record to stand out from the
crowd. It is this element of the album that provides its
individuality. For a relatively new band, this is a
stand out album, and even though it does contain some
imperfections, it shows the potential of a band growing
in stature. A band deserved of a chance to make it big.
For
fans of: Queens of the Stone Age, Radiohead, Blur
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www.shibuyacrossings.com |
