Label: Island
Release Date: 29/10/07
Rating:
The Manchester rock quartet soldier on with their second album, still woefully underrated and ignored in today's indie scene. Nine Black Alps are yet to find a place - not profound enough to be taken seriously, and not trendy enough for the NME crowd. Where debut album 'Everything Is' was chock full of angst and bitterness, 'Love/Hate' sees the band mellow out a little.
Nine Black Alps have a knack for creating pop hooks beneath the grunge surface and this time the tunes are instant, instead of being buried beneath a wall of sound to be discovered after repeated listening. Nowhere more is this apparent then opening track 'Bitter End', which is all sunshine and flowers. Fear not angsty teens - the band still know how to sulk at their lot in life in 'Forget My Name', which whilst being a good rock-by-numbers track, sits awkwardly with the change in theme and mature sound. Lead single 'Burn Faster' is a perfect introduction to 'Love/Hate', being everything that is good about Nine Black Alps - a twisted, rousing anthem.
A blip in the album comes with 'Pet Hate' and 'Painless' - both sound tired and unimaginative compared to what follows. What follows is the heavenly 'Future Wife', where Sam Forrest's cynicism has an even greater sting over his sweetly-sung vocal and laid-back Californian-style guitars. 'Heavier Than Water' is hugely impressive and atmospheric, with a Queens Of The Stone Age-esque epic build-up, and works well despite the emo lyrics. 'Happiness And Satisfaction' is an off-kilter ditty, quizzical and taking the listener through many musical twists. 'Under The Sun' finishes the LP with the only low-key number - a shame, as their debut's 'Behind Your Eyes' and 'Intermission' were outstanding tracks.
'Love/Hate' is ultimately a frustrating album. 'Everything Is' was strong and flawless as a record, one of those LPs where every song could be a single. The follow-up is melodic and artful, with more experimentation musically, and superior production. There are moments of brilliance, such as the already mentioned 'Heavier Than Water' and 'Future Wife', but the album doesn't feel like a whole body of impressive work. Despite being thoughtful and clearly intelligent songwriters, there is also a throwaway feel to the tracks here. Nothing lyrically will seep in and change your life, instead the power lies in the energy and atmosphere created in the stand-out numbers.
Becky Reed
Nine Black Alps Official Site
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