The Computers - Love Triangles Hate Squares (Album Review)
Tuesday, 23 April 2013
Written by Owen Sheppard
This 11-track offering brings the sound of the Exeter five piece’s debut full length ‘This is the Computers’ another two-step closer to Chuck Berry whilst rendering them almost unrecognizable from the thrashy hardcore of their 2008 EP. The Computer’s half way house between two utterly alien genres once evoked mental images of Henry Rollins mimicking John Travolta’s moves in the Pulp Fiction Jack Rabbit Slims scene.
'Love Triangles Hate Squares' is almost comically over blown, unsubtle and bursting with energy. You can barely go 10 seconds through any of these short sharp belters before an ambush of hooks. Chief songwriter and frontman, Alex Kershaw has composed an astounding record of genre alchemy. He should try his hand at writing a West End musical. Everything from washes of organs, skiffle guitar licks, piano strokes, group hand clicks and gospel vocal harmonies greet you like theatrical pop happy slaps. Yet somehow it all runs comfortably next to chunky bass lines and high distortion guitar injections.
The top and tail of this record demonstrate its music and not just physical parameters. The two and a half minute opener ‘Bring Me The Head of a Hipster’ is explosive fun and races through multi layers of haywire verse, bridge, chorus to breakdown in a perfectly crafted two and half minute dose. Meanwhile the closer and longest track at four minutes eight seconds: ‘Single Beds’ nears Disney channel baroque balladry. Did I mention these guys call themselves “punk and roll”?
Kershaw is also a fascinating vocalist. His switches between The Hives style yeeeooowwws and bluesy crooning on a mixture of tracks is something to behold. You can imagine him stage diving while holding a vocal composure to captivate a Britain’s Got Talent audience.
Are they still a punk band? In attitude, certainly. They’re still adamantly anti-trend and taking great pleasure in writing whatever style of music takes their fancy, naming their opening track ‘Bring Me the Head of a Hipster’ makes a statement of that. But in musical aesthetic, you fathom instrumentals of tracks like ‘Call On You’ ‘Point Of Interest’ and ‘C R U E L’ sound tracking adverts on Dave and Comedy Central rather than circle pits in the beer encrusted basements they normally play in. Commercially speaking The Computers are somewhat wobbling their own tight rope in making unique musical progression like this.
Some will be dismayed to hear the Exeter lads distance themselves even further from their earlier sound. Some may find them just all too much, dare I say cheesy. But with an innate knack for penning bold power pop tunes like these, Kershaw has every chance of leading The Computers to bigger things.
The Computers release 'Love Triangles Hate Squares' on Monday 29th April via One Little Indian. The band tour the UK next month.
Wed May 8th 2013 - 100 Club, London
Thu May 9th 2013 - The Harley, Sheffield
Sat May 11th 2013 - Manchester Deaf Institute, Manchester
Wed May 15th 2013 - Finns Rock Pub, Weymouth
Tue May 21st 2013 - Waterfront Studio, Norwich
Thu May 23rd 2013 - Rainbow, Birmingham
Tue May 28th 2013 - Nottingham The Rescue Rooms, Nottingham
Wed May 29th 2013 - Nottingham Rescue Rooms, Nottingham
Thu May 30th 2013 - Broadcast, Glasgow
Fri May 31st 2013 - Mello Mello, Liverpool
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