aaamusic | On 25, Oct 2010

Brighton’s own Tall Ships prove to be an impressive band on their sophomore E.P. Impressive not necessarily being the same as good. They definitely have original ideas, they are technically very good, Ric Phethean’s vocals in particular being something else entirely and opening track Plate Tectonics is great, racing along on a haze of guitar hooks and ghostly organ before culminating in a guitar tsunami that borders on post-hardcore. It’s the most accessible moment on the E.P, and tellingly, the best.

After that it saunters between Chemistry’s Foals-esque indie funk, (the latter band they should probably get used to hearing, probably alongside the words “poor” and “mans”) and some quite simply baffling moments like Ode to Ancestors Casio-tone barbershop segment and the entirety of closer Bear and Blitz that smacks of putting weird stuff in for the sake of it. And if anyone tries to call that thinking out of the box they need a slap round the chops and a stern talking to.

Author: Will Howard