Bishop Allen - The Broken String

I couldn't help but laugh when I heard a radio DJ make this statement not too long ago...."that track came off Bishop Allen's brand new album, The Broken String. They haven't released anything since an EP they put out in 2003, so it's good to hear from them again". Now I'm not normally one to pull up others' mistakes, but the enormity of this one just couldn't be overlooked. Firstly, in 2003 they released an LP, it was called Charm School and I really enjoyed it. Secondly, they have released material since then. Lot's of it. In 2006 they embarked on the ambitious task of producing an EP for every month of the year. I didn't follow the project completely, but what I did hear impressed me. The songs occasionally sounded rushed or bare, but there's plenty of great material there. So you can see how being told they hadn't done anything would be quite amusing. This new record is actually composed of 10 tracks from the EP project plus a couple new ones, so is a nice alternative for those who, like me, are a little daunted by the idea of listening to twelve EPs. At first I thought the rushed nature in which many of these songs were written hurt them, but the more I listen, the more this impression fades. Bishop Allen have proven themselves as incredibly adept song writers. Their innovative take on indie rock music continues to enter new territory as they build a diverse collection for all to enjoy. If you're new to them, I'd probably recommend Charm School as a good starting point, but this album is definitely a worthy follow up.

Rain - The energetic mood of this song quickly led it to become and remain favourite.

The News From Your Bed - I remember hearing this one over a year ago when it came out on an EP (February was it?). It's still as enjoyable as ever.

Released: 24/07/07 | Website | Myspace