The Isles, not the British ones, though these New Yorkers do sound it. Back to the 80s.
The Isles are not of the British Isles whatsoever, no in fact they're very American, but sound just like they're straight out of Manchester. It's a trend that's quite current in music now, the fact that the cool has come back over to these shores thanks to the likes of the Arctic Monkeys means the British sound is being imitated the world over. But to be dismissive of The Isles because they sound like The Smiths would be wrong, there's a lot more to them that that, they're in fact, really very good.
Signed to the extremely impressive new label Melodic, the band have a lot of clout behind them, and a lot of talk, and the album 'Perfumed Lands' doesn't let any of their built-up empire crumble at all, it delivers, and well.
From opener 'Major Arcana' it's very obvious that Morrissey and the boys have taken great effect on them, but apart from those apparent similarities The Isles certainly have a lot to offer themselves and a real craft at making a catchy tune, and that is all you need sometimes, because if the music rocks people are gonna listen, no?
The New York in them does shine through though, especially on single 'Eve Of The Battle' which is very informed by Interpol in the way it's structured and fashioned. And of course that's traceable back to this side of the pond with the likes of Joy Division pioneering the sound.
The songs on the record flow together lusciously and you'll sit through the whole thing not noticing transitions, but being affirmed song after song that The Isles have it made, a good style, a good craftsmanship and a good head on their shoulders, the pure songwriting ethos of this record makes it stand out from all others, incorporating all the bits and pieces that made songs and tunes memorable over the past twenty years and cementing themselves with those names and acts in doing so.
'Flying Under Cheap Kites' has elements of the Divine Comedy about its musical structure and again very much The Smiths in the vocal side, and 'Summer Loans' starts like it could be The Arcade Fire and continues on with a bassline like 'Super Freak' by Rick James that bobs and bounces all over the place. Throughout the record its production is pristine, utilising hi-fi and low-fi sounds to suit and always sounding perfectly mixed.
If The Isles were about it the early/mid 80s they would not have been out of place alongside the like of The Smiths and R.E.M at all, as it is they're bringing back a grand style of music that you can never get enough of, and it's a very welcome change from the sludge that is becoming of the unchanging industry...