Main Site
Navigation
New Model Army
Albums
Adrian's Album Reviews
New Model Army
High 8 ( 2007 )
Wired / One Of The Chosen / High / No Mirror, No Shadow / Dawn / All Consuming Fire / Sky In Your Eyes / Into The Wind / Nothing Dies Easy / Breathing / Rivers / Bloodsports
New Model Army are often referred to as a post-punk act, but their music has covered much more than that fairly limiting description would imply. They've been around since 1980 in one shape or form, after all. Staunch advocates of the British working class, their formation came against a backdrop of Margaret Thatcher trying to encourage greed and destroy community and society in the early eighties. They railed against this, had the energetic feel of punk. Bandleader/vocalist/guitarist Justin Sullivan ( together with lifelong romantic partner, writer and poet Joolz Denby ) formed this band ethos and concept. As an aside, some fifteen or so years ago I managed to exchange a few letters with Joolz on poetry matters, a friend of mine somehow had also been in correspondance with her and recommended her poetry to me. At that stage, I had no idea she was involved in New Model Army in any way. It's funny how these things turn around. 'High' by the way is twelve tracks and forty nine minutes of very accomplished, energetic rock music. The songs are often propelled forwards by a superb sounding rhythm section. For a band that's been around twenty seven years as of the time of writing, 'Wired' is certainly a, well, 'wired' opening full of energy and passion. This is only built upon by the 2nd track, 'One Of The Chosen'. This song has an atmospheric stadium sized intro, quiet before tribalesque drums enter in. Justin Sullivan comes across as a preacher or politician before the song begins to pick up steam with flashes of guitar and a groovy bass line. All of the songs on the album are decent constructions, but 'One Of The Chosen' particularly appeals to me.
The songs on the album vary in tempo, yet always seem to suggest an element of urgency and energy, thanks to the rhythm section yet also thanks to the almost folk protest vocals of Sullivan. 'Into The Wind' is a solid, mid-tempo tune enriched no end by delicate, pretty keyboard melodies. The driving 'Nothing Dies Easy' rides along on an addictive, insistent riff whilst 'Breathing' seems epic in scope and switches from quiet to loud very effectively. New Model Army should be very pleased to still be making such relevant and emotional music this far into their careers.
Share Your Views?
this page last updated 18/07/07
Listening Post | Home Page | Message Board | Features/Articles | Music Review Sites | Poetry | Prose
Ratings At A Glance | Readers Comments | Singles Bar | What's On Adrian's Stereo | Top 100