The Neil Forbes Hailing from Summerside, Canada, The Neil Forbes (self-proclaimed "post-satanic-rock defenders of the universe") regard themselves as being a Bluegrass/Latin/Death Metal band - testament, hopefully, to the band's astute sense of sense of humour rather than any serious mental illness. The trio named themselves after their bassist, citing Neil Forbes' hair as one of their greatest influences (indeed, it is a sight to behold), with other, lesser inspirations ranging from Slint and Sigur Ros to M83 and Mogwai. Somewhat unusually for a post-rock release, there are 13 songs on The Neil Forbes' debut album The Talk Of Paris Society (the title of which may also be a subtle reference to Neil's coiffure, who knows?). Sprawling, epic tracks in the vein of Godspeed You! Black Emperor or Sparrows, Swarm and Sing! are clearly not their scene, with the longest song barely breaking the five-and-a-half minute mark; short but sweet seems to be the key here. In a similar vein to The Six Parts Seven or The Mercury Program, much of The Talk Of Paris Society consists of elegant, straightforward melodies, with The Neil Forbes plying their trade courtesy of sheer musical craftsmanship rather than the grandiose crescendos that typify many instrumental bands. Keyboards, glockenspiel, trumpet and even background chatter are occasionally employed to augment the basic line-up of guitar, bass and drums, at times giving a distinctly jazzy edge to the music. However, by way of contrast, tracks such as "Dorothy, I'm Not Quite Sure," "What Of These Noble Kings?" and "Don't Ever Tell Anybody Anything," with their quiet-loud approaches, will undoubtedly appeal to the post-rock traditionalists out there. In the latter song, which seemingly borrows heavily from Explosions In The Sky in their How Strange, Innocence era - with a bit of Mono's "Com" thrown in for good measure - guitar arpeggios intertwine with a simple melody, soon giving way to some forceful strumming, with the bass guitar then coming to the fore. A short but very effective crescendo completes what is probably the best song on the album. Non-music fans may even enjoy the penultimate track on the album, the aptly-named, two-minute ‘<Silence>’ - although this will undoubtedly have most people reaching for the fast-forward button. The Neil Forbes have created a precise, untainted sound, meaning that they lack the atmospherics that define the music of many of their better-known post-rock counterparts - although this is not a criticism per se, merely an observation, as this was clearly the band's intention. With The Talk Of Paris Society, The Neil Forbes, through a combination of meticulous timing and mellifluous airs, have created an album packed with succinct musical gems. Hopefully, Neil Forbes' hair can take the band onto bigger and better things. -Richard White Score: 7/10 |
