Chimpomatic

To Arms Etc

Corner Games

Bronzerat

Taking inspiration from Serge Gainsbourg's 1979 reggae album (don't ask) Aux Armes Et Caetera, To Arms Etc are fronted by Australian multi-instrumentalist Charles Campbell-Jones. Recorded over a prolonged period with a rotating array of guests and band members, Corner Games has a surprisingly cohesive sound.

A mish-mash of styles work well to support the consistent themes and atmosphere running through the album, as piano and xylophone run alongside luscious harmonies, giving the album a sound almost like an indie Coldplay, or a minimalised Flaming Lips. The combination of retro sounds and modern references (Little Domino) often seems insincere and smirking, hinting at deeper meaning beneath the surface.

The prominent piano work is the strength and weakness of the album's sound. When it's working well, it provides a foil for the abrupt lyrics - threatening to rock out at any moment (Super-Radiance) - but with lyrics this narrative in sound, the piano can also push the album into a feeling of theatre, or even the dreaded musical (Isinbayeve).

Ultimately it's the latter that wins out, and while there's plenty of pleasant enough listening here, there's little that really digs in for the long haul.

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18th Mar 2009 - Add Comment - Tweet