Considering Interpol are frequently bracketed with Editors as purveyors of anthemic but doomed post-punk, the latest albums by the two protagonists makes you wonder why they’re often compared with each other. Whilst Editors have softened their act and ambled down the Coldplay market, Interpol are discovering a different musical landscape. ‘Our Love To Admire’ is not perfect but it’s a commendably brave effort.
Their ambition is revealed straight away with opener ‘Pioneer To The Falls’. It builds from a Morricone drone into an epic number that is as much about spaghetti westerns and Radiohead as it is about a group clinging on to the Joy Division bandwagon. In fact, at these times, they don’t really sound like Joy Division at all. ‘No I In Threesome’ is another superb track. It’s another widescreen, cinematic number with a huge driving chorus. ‘The Scale’ is slightly dirgey but in a good way. It’s testament to the strength of this beginning that the momentum is lost a fraction by the fourth track, ‘Heinrich Maneuver’. It’s the first single off the album but it is best described as a means of ensnaring those enthralled by their previous album ‘Antics’.
On ‘Pace Is The Trick’ the momentum is restored with guitarist Daniel Kessler relocating another chiming melodic undertow (not to mention a wonderful middle eight) whilst Paul Banks makes a mockery of those “sad robot” comparisons with an arresting performance in front of the mic. Furthermore, when he insists “I got the fire, it’s in this soul” on ‘All Fired Up’ he is believable. ‘Rest My Chemistry’ is another standout with some mid-paced but winning, strident hooks courtesy of Kessler whereas ‘Wrecking Ball’ and the atmospheric ‘The Light House’ show a hitherto area of vulnerability in Banks’ distant, despairing performance. Overall, Interpol have taken a breather from the danceable and high quality brand of indie, slowed the pace right down and become a more expansive outfit as a result. If only all “new directions” were as successful as this.
Web Sites:
Interpol Official Band Site
Interpol MySpace
Also Recommended:
The Departure, Editors, Medium 21
It’s a lovely album, much better than Antics and close to TOTBL.