Bandicoot - Black After Dark

 

Due to my fascination with all things Crash Bandicoot, even calling our old Lurcher Crash, I was always going to be interested in a band called Bandicoot. Fortunately, the Swansea quartet's debut album is outstanding and there is no better label to be on than Libertino Records.

I do hope that the band don't get lobbed in with the Indie Brigade, because there is so much more to them than that. This is inventive and at times dramatic stuff, referencing the Glam Era of 72 - 74. This period has become a popular direction to aim at recently, but this isn't an album of hand claps and big drum stomps.

Black After Dark is more Art Rock, think early Roxy Music, John Cale even. This is helped enormously by both the Saxophone and keyboard sound. The Sax in particular is awesome, very Andy McKay, at times a bit Wizzard Brew. The only real Glam Rock is Fuzzy, which seems deliberately so.

A song like Early In The Morning has so much work in it. Starting like Radiohead, then builds and builds into a real sing along, before crashing back down to earth. It is a marvellous affair. In comparison, Dark Too Long races along, almost Avant Garde, a little Prog at times.

Life Death And Other Things is a little more second half of 80's Rock, yet Rhys Undertown's vocal on the splendid title track is foppish. Shadow Of A Former Time is a corking 70s Pop Rock ballad yet Train Station Mural is all Fuzz Guitar, interrupted by another great Sax break.

Siren is a Psych Freak Out of the highest order whilst Bleed Out is very Morrissey. It is testament to the album that any of the 13 songs could be picked out as a winner. Their is so much invention on show that you notice something extra on every listen.

Black After Dark is an album brimming with ideas, beautifully played and arranged. The Vocals are as magnificent as the Saxophone, an instrument that you don't hear enough in Rock these days. Bandicoot are Album Of The Year contenders, buyers will play this to death.

You can listen to and buy the download here. The Vinyl can be pre-ordered here.

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