Thursday 1 November 2007

*The Old Soul - Gold (Album)



The Old Soul - Gold (Maple Music)

Sometimes it’s a look, sometimes it’s a voice and other times it’s just a melting pot of sounds, voices and instruments. One of the newest additions to Maple Music’s roster is, The Old Soul and their first offering, ‘GOLD’ is a melee of electronic beats, drums, strings, layered voices and the occasional synth thrown in for good measure. The fast paced, Daft Punk like intro to the album could lead anyone to think this was a heavily electronic band. But the Christmas church choir intro to the second song, ‘you are GOLD’ throws them out of the electronic arena and back into one where sharing space with Spoon, Arcade Fire, The Shins or The Most Serene Republic wouldn’t feel uncomfortable. The album seems to split into two, those songs that are instantly likeable and those that are ‘growers’. Songs like, ‘your sister’ ‘fight us Titus’ and ‘I sing in uni-verse’ don’t quite connect in melody or lyric. However songs like ‘war on the imposters’, a song covered in beautiful string and piano parts mixed with a ferociously fast drum beat and perfectly pitched vocals remind you of an epic film score. ‘Not a real tan just a BRONZER’ show the bands clearly in tact sense of humour and ‘SILVER medal’ is a catchy, cheerful number followed by ‘fear is a man’s best friend’ an epic tale with intense vocals and lofty string parts. Once you think you’ve got ‘The Old Soul’ figured out, they go and throw steel drums on ‘Let’s Neck’ a love song formed somewhere it seems between Jamaica and Canada.
For one album they have managed to squeeze a huge amount in, the many different sounds of the album won’t be for everyone but songs like ‘war on the imposters’ and ‘let’s neck’ show a band worth getting excited about, a huge slice of potential making it’s way to your ears soon.

7/10

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