Belles - Omerta

  by Geraint Jones

published: 17 / 2 / 2004

---

‘Omertà’ is the code of silence observed by a certain organised crime fraternity. Or at least it is by those who haven’t found themselves wearing a pair of concrete boots. Whatever, I hope the Belles aren’t ‘connected’ in anyway. Not that I’m going to completely dismiss their debut although I’ll admit to having reservations. Hailing from Kansas, the Belles are essentially a duo – guitarist and songwriter Christopher Tolle and percussionist Jake Cardwell. There's some outside help offered but overall theirs is a stripped down minimalist approach. Loosely described, it’s hushed, semi-acoustic pop with a dusting of Americana. Not too dissimilar to the Pernice Brothers in fact. Christopher’s Tolle’s softly whispered vocals though, whilst pleasant enough, aren’t a patch on Joe Pernice whose warmth and pathos could probably almost as easily be evoked by singing the phone book as his own, often haunting songs. There are major flaws in the arrangements I feel – Jake Cardwell as half of the duo, has, democratically or not, been given too free a rein and consequently the drums and percussion are far too upfront in the mix, and for the most part sound far too intrusive for such sparsely arranged material. From a consumer’s point of view it’s also disappointing to notice that three of the four tracks from the band’s recent ‘(Who Will Be) Here To Hear?’ EP are also included on the album. And labels have the gall to complain about single sales!? ‘Omertà’ isn’t a bad record by any means. The likes of ‘Liquid Breakfast’ and forthcoming single ‘Never Said Anything’ seem more fully realised and perhaps hint at more promising things to come but overall it’s a flawed and disappointing debut, especially when held up in comparison to the work of their peers and influences.

Track Listing:-

1 So I, Sing
2 (Who Will Be) Here to Hear?
3 Never Said Anything
4 You Can't Have It All
5 Omerta
6 Victory Parade
7 Little Mexican
8 Estranged
9 His Undoing, Was His Undoing
10 Liquid Breakfast
11 A Thousand Ships

Post A Comment

---

Comment

Name

your name

Location

ie London, UK

Submit

Check box to submit

Adam Coxon
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson

Dixie Ernill
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart

Malcolm Carter
Marie Hazelwood
Mark Rowland
Nick Dent-Robinson
Nicky Crewe
Nige Nudds
Philamonjaro
Richard Lewis
Shirley Procter
Spencer Robertshaw
Steev Burgess
Steve Kinrade

Steve Miles
Tommy Gunnarsson
Zena Grieg