aaamusic | On 22, Jun 2012

Putting aside my immediate prejudice against people who have problems with spacebars, Johnny5thWheel&thecowards offer a very British take on pop music that can only be described as “bonkers”, like Lewis Carroll curating a festival.
Musically, the first track, ‘Nancy’ is fairly quiet for a band that wear their quirkiness for the world to see, being an understated acoustic guitar-driven song until the last minute where the sound builds with an ominous bass hum and the hushed percussion flourishes that pepper the track, coinciding with the lyrical narrative’s climax. The odd, spoken-word vocal style works entirely in J5W&tc’s favour here, coyly adding to the atmosphere given the song revolves around stories, and also nailing the deadpan ending very well. I’m not sure about ‘In My Laboratory’. On the one hand, the skewed percussion and mischievous choral moments, as well as the playful discord of the guitar, make for an intriguing sound. However, the track itself feels a little too whimsical and as a result is hard to really get into which is a shame, as it can prove very fun indeed if you persevere beyond the “oh how kooky are we?” veneer to really appreciate it. But I am left wondering if the reward is entirely worth the effort. It’s good, but for all its trying to be different, doesn’t leave me craving more.

★★★★★

Author: Katie H-Halinski