Less than twelve months ago, the MANIC STREET PREACHERS dropped “Rewind The Film”, their eleventh studio album. It was a very mellow, quite stripped back affair, focusing on a sense of nostalgia and heritage. It lacked the usual bite the former Welsh punks can be renowned for but it was still a quality record. 2014 however already sees them release yet another album; “Futurology”. Two years, two albums and seemingly two opposite concepts…or are they simply lost creatively?
Opening up with the album’s title track, it’s already clear that things are a little livelier this time around, a soft indie rock number utilising the melodious tones of James Dean Bradfield’s vocals, with a simple rhythm to Nicky Wire and Sean Moore’s respective playing. It’s a pleasant start. First single “Walk Me To The Bridge” has a slightly 80’s vibe to it musically, again, a simple track but with a chorus as bold as any, while “Europa Ghet Durch Mich” has a heavier, electronic pulse driving the song. Guest vocals from German actress Nina Hoss give the track extra bite and it makes for an interesting listen.
“Sex, Power, Love And Money” and “Mayakovsky” are grittier guitar driven pieces, with the latter being primarily instrumental, while “Misguided Missile” and “Dreaming A City (Hugheskova)”…another instrumental…are both incredibly catchy and are both album highlights.
Despite its title, what the Manic’s have treated us to with “Futurology” is a fine collection of tracks combining the sleek, seemingly effortless, modern observational song writing we've come to recognise from the Welsh rockers, with a slight retro nod to artists along the lines of KRAFTWERK and ULTRAVOX in places the way it’s all been delivered. It’s still very much a Manic’s album, but with just enough ingenuity to be fresh and more importantly, enjoyable. No matter what direction they take, be it rewinding or contemplating the future…it’s all irrelevant. What counts is the end product, and in album twelve they've proven yet again just how reliable they are. [8]
The album, "Futurology" is out now: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/futurology/id858632456
Opening up with the album’s title track, it’s already clear that things are a little livelier this time around, a soft indie rock number utilising the melodious tones of James Dean Bradfield’s vocals, with a simple rhythm to Nicky Wire and Sean Moore’s respective playing. It’s a pleasant start. First single “Walk Me To The Bridge” has a slightly 80’s vibe to it musically, again, a simple track but with a chorus as bold as any, while “Europa Ghet Durch Mich” has a heavier, electronic pulse driving the song. Guest vocals from German actress Nina Hoss give the track extra bite and it makes for an interesting listen.
“Sex, Power, Love And Money” and “Mayakovsky” are grittier guitar driven pieces, with the latter being primarily instrumental, while “Misguided Missile” and “Dreaming A City (Hugheskova)”…another instrumental…are both incredibly catchy and are both album highlights.
Despite its title, what the Manic’s have treated us to with “Futurology” is a fine collection of tracks combining the sleek, seemingly effortless, modern observational song writing we've come to recognise from the Welsh rockers, with a slight retro nod to artists along the lines of KRAFTWERK and ULTRAVOX in places the way it’s all been delivered. It’s still very much a Manic’s album, but with just enough ingenuity to be fresh and more importantly, enjoyable. No matter what direction they take, be it rewinding or contemplating the future…it’s all irrelevant. What counts is the end product, and in album twelve they've proven yet again just how reliable they are. [8]
The album, "Futurology" is out now: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/futurology/id858632456
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