Arrows of Love - 2525
Posted by AlMachine on Monday, January 25, 2010


A cover of Zager and Evans ‘2525’ is an unexpected choice for a band at the moment, but Arrows of Love make it work.

A refreshing change to the current pop craze going on in music, Arrows of Love have that raw tinny noise you get from a real indie band. They are edgy, alive, and inject a new lease of life into ‘2525’. The backing beat sticks to the tracks roots, making this a little bit addictive.

Vocals are strong, some great guitar riffs are tight and impressive, and it will stick in your mind. Covers either work, or make you cringe. This works.

London’s Arrows of Love know what they are doing as a band, and it shows through every aspect of their music.

Laura Johnstone

9/10


The Irrepressibles

There are only three words to initially describe this act; dark, bitchy, and depressingly passionate… Bring on The Irrepressibles.

Frontman Jamie knows what he is doing, he’s musically clever, and just from listening to him you get the distinct impression he was born to be on stage.

Cut the crap lyrics offer something uniquely likeable about this album, and you sense the passion out into the writing. This is especially notable in ‘My Friend Jo’, totally unexpected, and yet mystical.

Flamboyant, orchestral backing offers a sense of drama amongst dark pop. This is not an album to cheer you up, or is it? You have to look deeper into The Irrepressibles and each track, because actually they are quite fascinating, a musical on CD.

‘Anvil’ stands out from the crowd s a sort of pop/classical piece – a strange combination, but catchy.

Operatic in discourse, you could imagine that some tracks were written to be performed in more than one sense of the word. This is not mainstream by any sense of the word, and it’s hard to get into. Coming to the end of the album I am still no further in my quest to work this band out, more a piece of musical art perhaps? Maybe that’s part of the big plan, you just never know.

6/10


Is Tropical

Is Tropical are a mysterious band from the start. Not only do you not ever appear to see their faces, this is their debut single release so there is not much information available on them, and their music initially deceives me.

With a name like ‘Is Tropical’ you sort of expect some kind of funky reggae ska style mix which is becoming popular on the underground scene, but no. The band are actually an indie electro trio from London.

‘When O When’ with it’s acoustic intro fools you again because at one minute thirty it’s all change to indie electro with synthesizers and harsh riffs. A mish mash of genres brought together by one band to create something new.

Distant electro vocals are almost smothered by the loud backing, but distinct enough to pick up the hook of the chorus and keep it in your head.

7/10

Laura Johnstone

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