aaamusic | On 09, Nov 2010

The Last Republic’s ‘Parade’ begins with “CCTV,” a phenomenal track which sets the pace for the entire album. Combining stunning falsettos with frankly wonderful riffs, this is a track which not only conveys interesting views but does so in an incredibly listenable way. Lyrically, it is exceptional and this is one of the things that makes ‘Parade’ such a fantastic album; there is no interest in rhyming “moon” with “June,” instead aestheticism makes way for lyrics that cut deeper yet for some reason it works.

“Let’s Make Bombs” is a slower build than “CCTV” but it is nonetheless impressive. The build turns into a frantic and urgent track, building with intensity where the chorus just explodes at the core. The comparisons to Muse will come thick and fast as a result of Owen’s vocals but I hope that the band takes this as a compliment; The Last Parade are one of the most exciting bands that I have heard in a long time. “As Darkness Calls” gives a welcome respite from the intensity of “Let’s Make Bombs” yet somehow the band even manages to pull off this slower pace.

“(C’mon) Flood The Gates” is somehow gorgeous which might sound somewhat juxtaposed to anyone who has heard The Last Republic. However, rather than the dark tone to the lyrics having a sobering effect, the band somehow pull you into their world and the beauty in the composition of the songs is explicit; this is fantastic song writing. “The City” has a much darker tone than anything that has come before it, Owen proving that his vocals stand out no matter what the range. This is the stand out track on the album for me, combining delicacy with an anthemic twist it is a beautiful swooning song at the same time as it manages to hit the listener with the sheer power of the track.

“When Fools Rush In” is almost Radioheadesque and throws in distortion in such a way that it never becomes self indulgent. There is a slight dirty twist to this track that could as easily fit into a garage as much as a stadium. There is a huge dramatic element to the track which only highlights the moments of delicacy here where the band really stands alone amongst their peers. “The Fear” too is an exceptional track; all flashy guitars and built up tension.

“Perfect Stranger” begins with a beautiful piano passage before building into an epic sound once more. However, the opening minute is nothing short of stunning and actually quite unexpected. I have already stated that the band’s delicate moments are their best but “Perfect Stranger” stands apart from the other tracks on the album. Laying one’s sound bare after so many epic tracks is an incredibly brave thing to do but The Last Republic pull it off in an emphatic way; absolutely gorgeous.

“Control” is the only track where one could accuse the band’s confidence as coming across as self indulgence with the track coming in at six minutes long. However, despite the perhaps over length of the track, the tension here is once again tangible where repetitions heighten anxiety. Owen’s falsetto here has a chilling feel rather than the beauty of earlier tracks but that is what I like so much about his voice. He has the ability to be a vocal chameleon yet at the same time be incredibly distinctive, a compliment if ever there was one. “Control” may be six minutes long but I don’t personally feel that it would be as effective were it to be any shorter, it is an incredible piece of song writing once more from the band and it would not be an exaggeration to say that I have been blown away.

“Parade” is a song to sound track your life to and once again allows you some space after the epic track that came before it. It is one of those songs that is applicable to almost any life situation and will probably be the track that many will see as the most relatable. Mixing moments of genuine artistry with sections of bigger production, this is a track that is so honest that it is impossible not to fall in love with it. The fun ends with “When The Crows Come Calling,” one of the more experimental tracks on the album. It is one of the only tracks that differs from a standard vbc structure and is all the better for it. The track ends on a stripped back note allowing the words to become the focal point, truly elegant stuff.

“Parade” is an album that knows when to get on top of you at the same time as it knows when to back off. It will earn frequent comparisons to Muse but it deserves more than that; this is genuinely brilliant stuff. It is not often that a band of this genre is able to be as beautiful as they are dark, as delicate as they are powerful but The Last Republic manage all of this here. The Last Republic are being touted as the most exciting thing to come out of Wales this year, however, one listen to “Parade” will prove to anyone that The Last Republic are the most exciting band to come from anywhere this year; truly exceptional stuff.

Author: Josie Payne