Album Review - Scarlet BLONDE
Some of the most common advice given to up and coming bands are make music you love and don't just follow the herd. This is some advice Scarlet Blonde have followed with when recording their first album, "Bedroom Superstars". Unlike a lot of recent bands, Scarlet Blonde draw their influences from Synth, 70's Punk, New Wave, Dance, Hip-Hop, Punk and full on Rock. All these elements combined create an album of catchy melodies are produced with some unique sounds. References for the tunes are drawn from the duo's quite colourful past, including being smuggled aboard a US bound ship and studying in North African in Tunisia. After hearing the above try not to let this put you off. The album is full of amazing sounding tracks, and inspiring vocals.
The opener to this album is about a minute of pure electro to build up your tastes for what is about to come. Following this are some electric rock/pop rock, and vocals that are able to blend in with all the songs equally well. Most of the songs, including Electric and the title track Bedroom Superstar, are upbeat and will have you hooked with the catchy choruses. There is NO black and white has some great guitar rhythms, and gives the girls a chance to really show off their talent. Chocolate fudge and cherry tea and One and one makes three are much of the same; the naa naa's are a good touch in the later.
I don't know is probably more of a pop tune with an underpinning electric base, and has a great movie style ending. Also watch out for Roboot, which has an amazing mix entrance and Whenever whatever with its electric upbeat style. The softer songs on the album include the piano friendly Safe, in which you can imagine yourself floating with the infectious lyrics and Addiction, which begins as if it is going to be another ballad track, but turns into a more electric tune; this is also the case for I know, which begins with a more mysterious style.
Some of the songs would have sounded better and been more enjoyable if they had been focused on one genre of music - rock or electro - rather than having some hard-core instruments with a squeak underpinning everything. Let go has this problem. If it wasn't for the insistent screeching under the track, it could have been an amazing rock tune. Having said this, on some of the tracks this effect works remarkably well. Instant Mash has some soft pop vocals, mixed with an electric base and rock sounds, which are beautifully put together.
Watch out for Scarlet Blonde in the coming months, and this album is going to be hugely popular on the dance floor, in clubs and in bedroom across the UK.