Up until a week ago my house was free from wailing spirits. Not so any more.
The Banshee‘s 80’s Britpop undertones are reminiscent of The Killers and Franz Ferdinand as well as the inevitable Joy Divison reference, their new single ‘Colder‘ is guaranteed to warm you up quickly. Matter of fact, the whole album will. The choruses lift and the verses, well… they keep lifting. These guys differentiate themselves with keyboard textures and effects augmented by soaring riffs and multiple layers of angular sound. They clearly like their 16-beats with a disco hi-hat, and the tracks – although carefully produced – retain a rawness that conveys the band’s energy.
But it’s for better or for worse,that the album never lets up. It feels like a rollercoaster ride without the uphill parts – it’s fast and furious all the way through. By keeping energy levels up and a constant sharpness throughout, there’s not much time to breathe and savour the anticipation of the next rush.
Don’t get me wrong, the good songs are very good indeed. Tremendous choruses, such as the skilled build-up in ‘Kicks Up‘, and ‘People Around’, with it’s deliciously soothing verses that burst into a chant. ‘Cut Me Clear’with it’s guitar riff and disco-beat on the verses, is another one I liked, and the aforementioned ‘Colder‘ is simply a cracker.
These are clever tunes, and The Banshee certainly has potential for the Indie charts, and despite sounding more British than a bacon sarnie for breakfast, the quartet – believe it or not – are Italian. Their début album ‘Your Nice Habits‘ should be out anytime now, and it’s worth keeping an eye out for.
TRACKS:
The Banshee – Your Nice Habits
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Guest post by the mystical Dorian H.
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