poppedmusic

The Loudest Engine

Released 12th September 2011

So it has been a while since we heard anything from the Howling Bells. They return with a brand new album this week called The Loudest Engine. Despite the title it isn’t the loudest anything, or quite the exciting anything either. I could never really describe the Howling Bells as exciting though, they are a band who craft their songs but they don’t really sprinkle them with any huge amount of glittery magic like some people. The ingredients are all there, great sounds, fantastic playing, writing, vocals, harmonies, everything, but for an album that I was really really looking forward to I do feel a little disappointed.

The album starts really strongly. I love everything about Charlatan and it would make for a great single. I love the vocal in particular during the chorus. Howling Bells always do dark really well, the vocal is perfect for it and stretch it over electric guitars and it is a wonderful combination. Why then is it that after a few listens of this album I suddenly find that tracks that did stand out now seem to roll into each other. At one point, I was even so fed up that I had to turn it off. It is complicated, because individually I like each track, but put them all together as this collection does and it all feels a little bit too much sometimes, but not all the time. Secrets is another track that I do rather like, quite a bit actually. It’s the bass and the male/female vocal that I really like, it does sound like something new and refreshing for the band and in this context. It doesn’t feel like it drags, it’s well punctuated with tambourines and an interesting backing vocal. It’s got a nice groove to it that pops up now and then through out and it actually feels like quite a sexy song. I guess the lyrics “I wanna see all of you” could also be taken to be in a sexual way too.

The Faith is a track that has quite an upbeat feeling and the echo on the vocal is a nice little touch. This is certainly another track that could be released as a single because it has a good strong message that will be easily identifiable with a wide audience and the melody is catchy too. To me this track has the ultimate Howling Bells sound and maybe that is why I like it so much. The title track on the other hand starts out as though it’s a Yeah Yeah Yeah’s track, and I do mean literally. I half expect Gold Lion to start, and it doesn’t, obviously. I can’t decide if I like this track or not. I want more from it, but am I being picky or should I expect more than I get? In theory I do like elements of it, certain lyrics but not certain guitar drones, and I do really like the drums because rather than push it on they keep a steady pace and let everything else push, until it’s their time and then they do pick up a bit. Sadly it’s mainly the instrumental part toward the end of the song that I like best. I do love Juanita’s vocal, please please don’t get me wrong, but I do find in this track that it can become a little annoying.

Talking of the vocal becoming a little annoying, it does unfortunately happen quite frequently on this album, I’ve never noticed it so much before. Into The Sky feels like it drags because of it, and Gold Suns, White Guns it’s too sickly sweet, and that’s so annoying in it’s self because there are lots of bits of the music, again, that I really do like. Having said that, I can’t imagine anyone else singing over it. I really am being picky, but perhaps if the track was a little punchier than whaling it might have taken my fancy a little. Where I liked the echo effect on the vocal in another track, in this one I find it somewhat contrived. Just go ahead and call me fickle. I can’t put my finger on it. There’s lovely, clever, good, there’s ok, there’s annoying and there’s a smidgen of mediocre and it can all be found on The Loudest Engine. I wanted to give this album a glowing review, but sometimes you can’t always get what you want, and I don’t quite get it from this and I can only be as honest, but I implore you, listen to it, you might as well, for as many times as you can, because it’s currently streaming on their facebook page in its entirety. You’ve lost nothing but time if you don’t like it, and if you do, at least you’ll have had a try before you buy!