Album - The Young Republic - Balletesque

The Young Republic are peerless, I can't think of one band that's released an Indie Folk Classical Blues Album. It's the broadest combination of big music I've ever heard. Just when your mind settles on a convenient reference, the whole box you were constructing gets ripped apart.

As an album Balletesque is an astonishing work, the variations in style and noise levels are held together by songwriting that few other bands match. The band members are in the main classically trained so of course they can play their instruments but the knack of complementing each other and creating space in amongst some very complex music is almost unique.

It's really difficult to reference to other bands and the nearest I can offer is the feel of 'This is the Sea' by The Waterboys when they were absolutely at the top of their game. 'Bows in Your Arms' rears like Medicine Bow or Be My Enemy, The Alchemist is massive and the classical compositions are possibly where Mike Scott was imagining the music. (But it sounds nothing like The Waterboys)

I'm pretty sure this isn't going to be to everyones taste as it's as unfamiliar as it is traditional, and its never going to be a sing a long Killers style album. The lyrics are more obtuse and the chorus' less repetitive than much of the formulaic and dull white boys play guitar music of the last 3 years. I have my doubts as to whether people spend time listening to albums from start to finish anymore, and as there is no obvious single I'm not sure this album is going to launch The Young Republic into the hearts of the nation. I just hope it sells enough to keep the band together so that we can be treated to more songs of this nature.

And in the end it's always the songs that matter, other than a 10 second intro to the album every song has the potential to be memorable and memories are priceless.

It's still Bloody Brilliant

Buy it here now and get a free EP exclusive to Rough Trade