Effortlessly Charming
Jaunty indie with a twist of Guillemots and the depth of feeling of Damien Rice is what Margot & The Nuclear So and So's concoct on 'The Dust Of Retreat', a definite must own for any indie fans. With an eye and an ear for the quirky in everything they play, this is a band who can't fail to please.
Opener, 'A Sea Chanty Of Sorts' is a pained ballad that stretches the raw emotions of the vocals across the regular ripples of piano arpeggios and starry keys to draw the maximum emotion from the tender tune; its achy plod like that of many a skilled singer-songwriter. 'Skeleton Key' continues to sound a little shoegazing, but the rhythm picks up with some creative cello, snapping percussion and many a key change to keep you on your toes; it's also far more vibrant than your usual indie fare.
Margot & The Nuclear So and So's have produced an album that knocks you out on every front; 'Quiet As A Mouse' introduces some smashing rock guitar mixed with chugging strings, while 'Jen Is Bringing The Drugs' follows up with a perfect indie ditty. Each track is accompanied by a lyrical dexterity that simply cannot be ignored, if, "That's no way to live, all tangled up like balls of string" or "Love is an inkless pen" don't touch a nerve then you can hardly call yourself a discerning listener. Aussies Something For Kate are the closest direction comparison in terms of sound, but let's hope Margot & The Nuclear So and So's make it across the Channel more successfully.
When, 'On A Freezing Chicago Street' draws upon the classic cliché of getting drunk on cheap red wine, it plunges its anxious strings right into your bohemian heart and makes itself a little home, while 'A Light On A Hill' channels its angst to create the perfect singer/songwriter ballad, but enhanced by a multi-talented band. 'Paper Kitten Nightmare' is filled with tiny French snippets amidst the beautiful melodic chanting of the word, "Miaow", pretentious, moi? No, this tune is just adorable with squealing brass licks and a carefree Parisian air; who cares if the main lyric is an animal noise, c'est l'art.
Margot & The Nuclear So and So's have created an album with enough starry indie dreaming tunes to stun and a fair mix of strutting rock to silence any critics. 'The Dust of Retreat' is definitely an album that should make advances in the record charts with its refreshing ebullience and instrumental charm.