Sucioperro - The Heart String & How to Pull It (Album Review)
Monday, 07 March 2011
Written by Ben Bland
My Heart String & How to Pull It
Sucioperro have always put emotion into their songs. Indeed, they are one of a number of current Scottish bands (along with the likes of The Xcerts and Biffy Clyro) who have a wonderful ability to create a song that aren’t just cracking rockers but also works of great intensity and passion. The early indications of Sucioperro’s third record have been indications that the band is going down the route of tearing at the listener’s heart more than ever, as well as adopting a more straightforward and melodic sound than previously heard. Their debut 'Random Acts of Intimacy' kept its heart buried beneath energetic hardcore tinged heavy riffage and follow up 'Pain Agency' kept its heart from totally bursting out of its cage with impressive technicality and the odd progressive leaning. 'The Heart String & How to Pull It' makes no bones about the fact that it is just a little bit soppy...and when you manage to make the twinges of the heart sound as beautifully pure and invigorating as Sucioperro do on this record why should it?
The first thing that stands out on this record is the lyrics crafted by frontman J.P. Reid. Whether it’s the uplifting rallying call of "This dark moment will pass” or the plea to “Look back with a smile” or the despairing cry of “I am drowning, it’s not that I can’t take care of myself, I’m just needing someone to save me”, Reid perfectly weaves tales that tug straight at the heart string of the record’s title. With over the top sensitivity being extremely prevalent in the lyrical world nowadays, it is undoubtedly refreshing to hear the genuinely emotive lyrics that Sucioperro have been able to place on display here.
The lyrics are also perfectly augmented by the music that surrounds them. It would be unfair, upon hearing this record, to conclude that Reid is not an especially skilled guitar player because the man can play like a monster when he so chooses (as he frequently did on 'Pain Agency') but he restrains his playing to the basics in order not to overshadow the strength of the songs which, rightly, are the focus throughout. The other members of the band, drummer Fergus Munro and bassist Stewart Chown play along with this ethic by refusing to do anything unnecessarily showy that does not fit with the essence of the record. Sometimes rock bands find it hard to know when not to include another solo or not to include longer instrumental sections but Sucioperro have got that knack down to perfection here, which massively enhances the overall quality present here.
Another important addition to the mix present here are the female backing vocals that are a new part of Sucioperro’s sound. Lauren Hazlett does a great job of backing up Reid’s West Scotland brogue with her wonderful, almost spectral at times, vocal contributions. The backing vocals provided by Chown and Munro also deserve praise.
Of course, making a perfect record is extremely difficult and this is not a perfect record. Some will undoubtedly accuse the record of being a bit one-paced at times, especially during its middle section. The likes of 'Ideals Have Values' and 'Invisible Monsters' are excellent songs but they could perhaps do with a slightly more rocking track like 'Out & Over' being interspersed amongst them. The heaviest moments of the album are probably the first two tracks which, whilst not necessarily unusual on albums, is perhaps not quite the structuring that would make the most out of this group of tracks. Additionally, although most will probably be fine with it, the slightly unusual vocals present during 'Is That Why You Pull Me In?' may annoy some people. Furthermore those who like Sucioperro purely for their more energetic tracks, the likes of 'Liquids' and 'Are You Convinced?' for example will probably not be hugely excited by this record, a little like many Biffy Clyro fans were underwhelmed by 'Puzzle' back in 2007.
At the end of the day though, none of these things affect the quality of the songs assembled here, a collection which is arguably the band’s finest to date. Perhaps the ultimate highlight is closer 'Hands' which relies merely on the power of Reid’s lyrics, simple strummed guitar and wonderful vocal harmonies. It symbolises in one everything that is brilliant about this record; melody, lyrics, vocals and perfectly balanced instrumentation.
Hopefully this will finally gain Sucioperro both the critical and commercial recognition that they have always deserved.
Album Rating: 9/10
'The Heart String & How to Pull It' is out now on Xtra Mile Recordings. It is available in all good record shops and online via download as well.
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