Review 6

CYMBALS - THE AGE OF FRACTURE

TOUGH LOVE RECORDS 2014
BY OSCAR NICHOLAS

Faith in indie with joy and bounce. Cymbals latest album, The Age of Fracture, holds what every summer record needs (apart from its January release). The London four-piece named the LP after a book by Princeton academic Daniel T. Rogers. It follows the books themes based on history and society. Cymbals have created music with substance and concept which frankly is a well received breath of fresh air. To be honest The Age Of Fracture sounds like Radiohead on LCD.

From the start, The Age Of Fracture builds into a haze of synth, guitar and catchy drum beats. Opening track Winter '98 feels as though you are ascending into a mist of tip tapping melodies. The track has been produced in a way that gives the impression of space. Sung in french, the unique, crying, vocals of Jack Clerverly give the signature Cymbals touch.

The ear-worm of the record has to be the electro-pop formulated, finger on repeat, The Natural World. However the lyrics have a darker mood than you would expect from the bouncing rythem and flow. The song's concept is at a juxtaposition. 'I don't know enough about you, to be kind, to be kind to you' are the lyrics that peak the records chorus. The Natural World has the awesome quality that allows it to get better with time.

As the LP continues it feels like a journey. Regardless of the moody lyrics the record has a very bright sound. Tracks You Are, Empty Space and The 5% sway through comfortably with a series of interesting effects.

Just like any good conceptual album The Age Of Fracture has a short interlude track, The Fracture Of Age. The beat of which flows into the charismatic Like An Animal, a previously released single. The line 'No bodies looking and no one cares' is repeated before the layer of indie pop melt into more synthy, guitar twanged smoke.

The colourful indie music has a summer vibe to it, which is strangely pleasing mid February. Erosion the eighth track on the LP especially has a warm sound to it. Perhaps you could call it an indie barbecue song.

On the non-bonus edition of The Age Of Fracture the second last track is surprisingly titled The End. A 7 minute long, bi-linguale song, that sounds like a alternative pop, Super Mario soundtrack.

The darkest track on the record, Call Me, is a raw taste of Cymbals. Its bass filled melody, no vocals and slow tempo giving it a more serious vibe.

The Age Of Fracture: Bonus Edition gives one more goodbye. Smaller The City is a sweet finale, another tip tapper, it is sure make you bob your head, well at least a bit.

All together it is a hopeful record to be enjoyed in any climate. However I hope to be hearing Cymbals in a festival when the sun does finally come out.

Rating: 8