View The Review
6 out of 10
You set yourself a challenge when you name your band Olympus Mons, associating yourselves with the one time home of the Ancient Greek Gods, the tallest mountain in the solar system (It's on Mars) and a song by the Pixies ('Bird Dream Of The Olympus Mons'). 'Nothing's Gonna Spoil My Day Today' is a pretty big statement in itself; and unfortunately the London trio never really live up to either name.
A name that does spring to mind is Bloc Party. 'Too Much Too Soon' and 'Martial Law' in particular rely on the cheese wire guitars and propulsive beats of 'Silent Alarm', and both sound like 'Helicopter' with singer/guitarist Aaron's yap mirroring Kele Okereke's almost exactly (For, "Page two! First chapter!" read "Empty! Running On! Bravado!"). His voice is often refreshingly unusual (Is occasionally impenetrable) though, a cross between squeaky patois and Pete Doherty's slouch delivery, even if his lyrics aren't always up to scratch. The cringe worthy crudeness passing as social realism on 'OK On My Own', for example: "She says, 'Boys don't give a fuck about girls who care or girls who don't walk with their knickers down'/'And are were downstairs just waiting for the next boy in line.'" Eww.
Still, it's better than sounding like a rambling Kooks, as OM do on 'Late Again' (Featuring the compulsory noughties indie reference to public transport, trains this time) and 'The Song Of Home'. And there are moments when they show a fire of their own, as on 'Let The First Time Be The Last's' wavy punk-funk, the frenetic maths of 'The Broken Boys.' and 'The Letter', and the acoustic romance during the second interlude. Olympus Mons could still fall amongst the rest of the indie driftwood we've had in the last few years, but they've got some footholds here.
Listen: www.myspace.com/theolympusmons
Tracklist:
1. Martial Law
2. OK On My Own
3. Too Much Too Soon
4. Late Again
5. Journey Chapter VII
6. Interlude 1: "Shall We Jump The Broom"
7. Let The First Time Be The Last
8. Follow You Down
9. The Broken Boys And Girls Of This Enchantment
10. Give Action Purpose
11. The Song Of Home
12. Interlude 2: "Savanna-La-Mar"
13. The Letter
14. Sell Me To The Wind
15. Eye For An Eye
16. As Long As Our Feet Walk
No comments:
Post a Comment