Palma Violets: Danger in the Club
It’s about time Palma
Violets had a new album out. Especially after touring debut 180 for the past three years and now
2015 see’s the release of the new album Danger
in the Club.
180 was a rough
and ragged album, but it was full of emotion, like flicking through drunk
photos ten years after they were taken. Danger
in the Club follows suit, but everything feels more together yet it still
has that sense of pandemonium which might be down to two factors. The first
being that Palma Violets have recorded the new albums at the infamous rockfeild
studios in Wales which has abled them to achieve a much cleaner sound, the
other factor could simply be that they have improved as musicians since their
debut release. Opening track ‘Hollywood (I got it)’ harks back to 180 with its gritty riffs and bassist
Chilli Jessons screams in the background. The energy generated by Palma Violets
throughout the album is incredible, the title track exemplifies this. There are
chants of “ooh ahh” throughout the chorus which sounds like rampaging pirates
sharing a glass of rum after looting a ship. Somewhere on the Palma Violets
tour bus there must be a scrapbook of icons, they seem to have taken elements
from bands like The Jam, The Clash and T.Rex and put a modern twist on them.
Track ‘Girl You Couldn't Do Much Better’ with its reckless sound combined with
the subtle, and faint organ whine exemplifies these influences.
You would be fooled for thinking that the album just focuses
on guitar riffs and pounding drum beats. Track ‘The Jacket Song’ see’s the band
stripped down to an acoustic guitar. Its minimalist approach and position on
the album strikes a perfect balance between “in your face” rock and subtle emotive
tracks. Palma Violets have achieved a youthful and joyful sound on their second
album, which has the power to make you reminisce. It feels like a proper moment,
and when a band have hit the dizzying heights that their first album promised
you feel a huge sense of achievement even though you didn’t write the album.
‘Gout Gang Go’ is a fresh blast which starts with a slightly funky bass intro
but then explodes as all the elements combine. Danger in the Club still has those typical chaotic elements which
will mean that these songs will have a huge impact when they are played live.
9/10
Post a Comment