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Album Details

• Artist: The Hours
• Album: Narcissus Road
• Label: A&M
• Year of Release: 2007
• ME Rating:
• Reviewed by: dadair on 2007-04-13

They say that the key to a debut album moving a couple of places up the charts is down purely and simply to track-listing. Therefore, to follow the spicily positive to the point of strutting lyrics contained in The Stone Roses mannered 'Ali In The Jungle', with the soul caressing yet bleak subject matter contained in the title track, gives The Hours the edge in striking mood juxtaposition. Previous single, 'Back When You Were Good' is pure pop song-building to be proud of and it starts a turn into Coldplay and Radiohead waters. 'I Miss You', with its bleak piano lines and vocal drawl, sails too close for comfort to the aforementioned, established acts.

"I can't decide right now between murder or suicide,
  I'm goin' out, goin' out, goin' out of my mind."

This snippet from 'Murder Or Suicide' must have come from listening to Thom Yorke talking in his sleep. The Danny McNamara styled vocals of Anthony Genn (formerly of Elastica and Pulp) do not hide this impact enough. A slow and twining ode 'Dive In', sees the guys climb up to heights reached early on, with the reflective and aching instrumentals building up to a striking release of pride and heart. The funky blues with a weighty bass drum kick that leads into the cries of Genn, via 'People Say', shows up the ability to stretch out musical exploration and represents a departure from the norm for The Hours. The song culminates in a cathartic urban vocal lash out and the effect is drawn out, by the return of a longing vocal trail and soulful backing.

Offerings of poetic indie like this are usually relatively even in tempo. These guys just about get away with the slight unevenness of the mid-album rest in creativity. 'Narcissus Road' is certainly a place that can be that can be revisited.

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