I had real trouble reviewing this album. I kept putting it on with the full intention of sitting down, listening and critiquing. Problem was, I just kept 'forgetting' to pay attention. Okay, the first couple of times could be put down to tiredness/restlessness/having something on your mind. The 8th or 9th time? Let's face it, my life just isn't
that interesting (or eventful).
The promotion leaflet I received with the CD stated that, lyrically, the album dealt with the trials and tribulations of life "...whilst presenting an upbeat way to survive and get through it all". That, I'm afraid, is a lie. This album is not upbeat. It has, altogether, one tempo. That tempo is 'dirge'.
The opening track,
Stay, was a strange amalgamation of Muse-like progressive rock, 80's electronica (complete with 80's sounding lead vocalist) and James Bond theme. In fact, alot of the album listens like it was written for the dark and rainy action sequences of films like Batman Begins. The second track,
Lights, had drums lifted from a track I can't recall the name of on the We Are Scientists debut, then slowed to the point of dirge-like speed (yes, I know it's bad form to use the same word twice, and so close together, but it really is the only word that conveys what I heard).
Unfortunately that's as far as I got before my brain wandered off onto more challenging tasks like what to have for tea and how many washings I had to do before my laundry basket was
finally empty. I really did try, again and again, but track 2 was as far as I ever got whilst paying some semblance of appropriate attention.
It's not all doom and gloom (sort of). I liked the way
Panic Number layered and textured their different sounds, a good example being the break half-way through
The Pinnacle, but they didn't actually take it anywhere. The overall effect was similar to being down the pub and listening to some randomer pissing themselves as they try to tell you "the funniest joke you'll ever hear" and finding, when the punchline rolls around, you're standing there with your smiles all ready and nowhere to put them. There was just no oomph.
My real issue with this album is that I can't see the point of it. It's a bit ... void. I'm struggling to even savage it - there's nothing for me to latch onto, good or bad. I can't even comment on the lyrics properly - hard as I tried to focus, off my brain slid in other directions (much like the effect Death's appearance has on the vision of characters in Terry Pratchett books). It's exactly the kind of album I'd expect to hear playing in the background of one of those shops like Open - the trendy, minimalist type with acres of space and nothing in it. I'm always aware I've been listening to something for the duration of my time there but even the promise of Bruce Springsteen, in captivation, for my own personal pleasure wouldn't help me recall it.
I feared, due to my lack of interest (and like) in electronic music, that I may have been missing something profound and enlightening. I even had a look at the Panic Number artist blog on Channel4 music (
http://www.channel4.com/music/myband/panicnumber incase you're interested). I eventually enlisted the help of my music-geek friend. He came over and we sat down and listened together. After it finished he turned to me and said, in complete wonder, "It's like hearing Depeche Mode when they were 15 and playing in a mates garage - you know, before they got their shit together" As it turns out, this wasn't a compliment.
From The Low is released on 17th September on Lockjaw Records.
www.panicnumber.co.uk www.myspace.com/panicnumber
