The Maccabees – Wall Of Arms
The Maccabees have always been a safe bet. Their listenable if not somewhat inoffensive brand of indie won them many plaudits after the release of debut album 'Colour It In', with a popular mobile phone company even using one of their songs for an advertising campaign. All this considered, new album 'Wall Of Arms' is another gigantic step up, with evidence of new found maturity and depth peppered from start to finish. It still contains the same instantly identifiable sound that made the band such a hit, but with it comes a more mature, confident side. Don't expect any of these songs in an advertising campaign any time soon.
What has always been solid about The Maccabees is their instrumentation, and this is noticeable almost instantly yet again. Opening track and new single “Love You Better” commences with gloriously tinny guitars and crisp drumming spinning a solid melody. Question and answer guitar chords are a nice touch, with the tinny tone accentuated by rapid yet tight strumming. It is easily identifiable as a single, but in this case that is not a criticism. There would be no better way to start an album that with that, and the song's progression using both brass and strings demonstrate their growth. “Young Lions” again showcases the band's abilities, with well constructed guitar melodies woven within highly technical drumming. The guitars are beautifully pitched and with a clean sound, twisting inside and out each other. A balance of tempos also maintains interest, making for an altogether fascinating song. Intrigue and inventiveness make “Dinosaurs” a fascinating listen, with it sliding from brass to guitar in a matter of seconds. It is clear the band have worked hard on their sound without wanting to change it out of recognition, and it has worked very well. Each song is still easily identifiable, yet it possesses an added splash of maturity and style.
Regardless of the song, one thing that is never in doubt is the voice of Orlando Weeks. Bursting with influences from an array of eras, his pure tone and shaky delivery is instantly recognisable and always a pleasure. He simply excels in these new songs, taking his development to another level. “No Kind Words” proves his class with his low, powerful delivery complimenting what is a fantastically constructed and executed song. In contrast “Kiss And Resolve” makes use of his upper range well, being pitch perfect even at the highest of notes. Again, the song its self is well written and with Weeks' vocals becomes an instant hit. Such versatility is the key to impact of his voice, and from track to track Weeks consistently shows just what he can do, whether it be a soft whisper or howling chorus.
There is very little to criticise in 'Wall Of Arms', that much is for sure. And as the album closes out with “Bag Of Bones”, the realisation is that it is just simply that good. The final track is beautifully simple, perfectly executed and mellow in tone making for a good sign off and a glimpse of yet another side to The Maccabees. This is by no means a straight forward indie record, but more of a mature, thoughtful musician’s album. It is highly impressive, and lyric “Think of it as showing us the way” adds a delightful sense of irony. For the fact is no one need point these boys in the right direction, they know exactly where they are going.
Words: Dan Grose
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