More on: Interpol

Label: Parlophone
Release Date: 09/07/07
Rating:

Both apprehension and excitement often accompany the release of an eagerly anticipated album; there is something about a follow up that induces both fear and comfort in a fan and this latest addition to the Interpol discography is no different. Therefore it is with slight trepidation that 'Our Love To Admire' is inserted into the CD player for the first time.

There are certain bands you can spot a mile off and certain artists that you recognise in the opening few bars of a song. At once easily recognisable, vocalist Paul Banks does just that for Interpol. He has one of those incredibly distinctive voices that is instantly representative of his band; his voice epitomises Interpol. This may seem an obvious point – is this not what a singer is meant to do? Perhaps yes, but not so many bands achieve this as well or to as positive an effect as others. Just as the vocals of James Mercer give that first instant warm jerk of recognition that accompanies a new Shins record, so too with the vocals of Paul Banks - slightly dark, deep and occasionally verging on harsh, his voice manages to be incredibly representative of his band's sound. One listen to the opener which is classic Interpol, 'Pioneer To The Falls', and you know you're in for a real treat.

However, despite the positive connotations that coincide with this, 'Our Love To Admire' has much to live up to; 2004's 'Antics' catapulted the band into the limelight and rightly so. Yet even at first listen, the new album certainly has a couple of standout tracks to rival the favourites of 'Antics', and the first single from the album 'The Heinrich Maneuver' is one of those. A big, powerful track, it provides a way into the album with a particularly catchy riff that echoes throughout the song – one listen and guaranteed you'll be singing it for the rest of the day.

Yet fear not, Interpol have not produced yet another 'Antics'. Second to last track 'Wrecking Ball' is really very different from anything on both the previous and current albums. The guitar still has that echoing quality to it, but it is layered throughout the song with Banks' vocals, until about a minute from the end when it suddenly cuts back to the start again. It is an interesting point at which to cut it - it's almost before the track really reaches the climax and Banks' vocals, instead of being clear, strong and prominent, seem to be used primarily to create this layered effect. It is most definitely a grand and climatic track, quite unlike anything they have produced before.

Also, Interpol have not lost those darker edgier moments, as track 'All Fired Up' can contest to, Banks singing "I dream of you draped in wires and lying on the breaks". He is good at delivering these dark and often rather weird lyrics; it is part of their charm as it were. Interpol certainly do deserve the time it takes to really pay their records significant attention – they often have much more to offer than the first listen suggests, even if it just makes you realise what exactly it is you are singing along so happily to.

Rebecca Short

Interpol Official Site