published: 17 /
2 /
2004
Label:
Eat Sleep
Format: CD
Stripped down, semi-acoustic pop on debut album from new Kansas-nased group the Belles. which unfortunately does not bear up to its influences
Review
‘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