Feeder – Tallulah (Believe)
Feeder - Tallulah
Release Date: 9th August 2019
There always seems to be a lot of
beef with Feeder and I’ve never really understood it – they’re a band who write
consistently good tunes, have a sense of fun about them and massively lack ego
so if you’re against those things then jog on. ‘Talullah’ is the band’s first
album since the release of their ‘Best Of’ collection and it finds the duo in
free spirited and positive form. The collection opens with the aptly titled ‘Youth’
which bristles with hope, energy and the kind of freedom that comes with a road
trip in the sun – this is classic Feeder and it lifts the spirits with ease. ‘Blue
Sky Blue’ is up next and continues the uplifting theme with Grant Nicholas’
song writing hitting all the right buttons; “sometimes we get it wrong,
sometimes we’ll get it right, stare into crystal balls hoping that the future’s
bright”.
On ‘Daily Habit’ we get a
snapshot of observational thoughts set to some choppy guitars but this is
probably the weakest track on the album as the whole package is a bit disjointed
and directionless. Current single ‘Fear of Flying’ is a darker affair, a side
that Feeder have explored more in recent years to great effect, as the grungy
guitars and driving drums take you on a hyperlapse journey through the night
time city streets. ‘Rodeo’ is a wistful indie-rock tune which finds the pair reflecting
on a life well lived and what’s left to be lived while title track ‘Tallulah’ emerges
in to the world with trademark Feeder guitars and the slick, stylish bass work
of Taka Hirose pumping underneath, erupting in a typically triumphant chorus.
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| Feeder - Taka & Grant |
At the halfway point it is clear
that this is a classic Feeder album with the band enjoying this new phase in
their careers with the freedom of being able to create without restrictions. ‘Shapes
and Sounds’ is the sound of a band fully in their stride as they layer the
guitars and vocals up to create a wall of indie-rock noise infused with pop
melodies. Every now and again, Feeder come up with something truly unique and ‘Guillotine’
is that moment for this album as off kilter beats and sweeping melodies compliment
the searing notes from Nicholas’ guitar to create a glorious sound.
Feeder have always had obsessions
with America and a eye on Hirose’s native Japan so it’s no surprise to find ‘Kyoto’
nestled deep within this album; a tune that turns up the distortion on the guitars
and let’s the drums loose with the kind of energy you’d expect from Taiko
drummers. On ‘Kite’ there is a beautiful simplicity to the song writing as
almost childlike melodies undulate under the story telling that is full of
simple and pure emotion; “Once you know what its like to be loved, your senses
get high as a kite. Look Above”
The album closes with a pair of
songs, starting with ‘Windmill’ which is full of triumphant, end-of-movie,
credit-rolling emotion and some juxtaposing guitar and bass action. By contrast,
‘Lonely Hollow Days’ is a rippling acoustic lament which, whenever Feeder take
this direction, makes me think they’re singing for much missed founding member
Jon Lee who still has an influence on the sound. The key to Feeder is in the
song writing of Grant Nicholas and the skewed take on melodies of Taka Hirose
but it’s the pair’s enduring friendship and comradeship that shines through in
these songs and that is something to be cherished in a world where music
sometimes feels as though it has lost its heart.
More information: https://www.facebook.com/feederweb/
Live Dates:
14th September – The Pavilion, Singapore
17th September – Club Quattro, Nagoya
19th September – Club Quattro, Nagoya
20th September – Club Qauttro, Nagoya
1st November – Pyramids, Portsmouth
2nd November – Great Hall, Exeter
4th November – O2 Academy, Oxford
5th November – University of East Angla, Norwich
7th November – The Great Hall, Cardiff
8th November – Leeds Beckett University, Leeds
10th November – O2 Academy, Newcastle
11th November – O2 Institute, Birmingham
13th November – The Ironworks, Inverness
14th November – Barrowland Ballroom, Glasgow
16th November – Albert Hall, Manchester
17th November – Albert Hall, Manchester
19th November – Engine Room, Lincoln
20th November – Rock City, Nottingham
22nd November – The Roundhouse, London
23rd November – The Roundhouse, London
27th November – Nouveau Casino, Paris
28th November – Paradiso Kleine Zaal, Amsterdam
29th November – Frannz-Club, Berlin
1st December – Luxor, Cologne