Annuals - Be He Me

by Stuart Leech

published: 8 / 8 / 2007

Label: Virgin
Format: CD

Debut album from British group Annuals, which if one can get beyond initial Arcade Fire comparisons, proves to be thoroughly convincing

Review

Annuals seem to have a very formidable sound, layers upon layers of instruments highlighting lead singer’s Adam Baker’s malleable vocals. From the opener 'Brother', probably the standout track, you know you are in for something different. There is one problem though. It sounds a lot like the Arcade Fire. Now that’s obviously not a bad thing on a whole, but it’s hard to tell where influences begin and where cashing in ends. On the first listen I couldn’t get over the comparison but this album has much more to it than I gave credit for. For starters Annuals are much more happier; flippant pianos sound like something out of Mary Poppins while guitar riffs also play an important part of the ongoing journey through the Annuals' musical world. The beauty with this album is the arrangement; each instrument has been carefully recorded for maximum effect. 'Mama', a track late on in the album, is one of those simple yet layered acoustic tracks which gets better with every listen. After my first impressions past I found a great album. There’s not a poor track on there. Baker seems to have carved out his very own place along side some of best music of the last few years and at only 20 years old there‘s not many people who can claim that.

Track Listing:-

1 Brother
2 Dry Clothes
3 Complete or Completing
4 Carry Around
5 Chase You Off
6 Bleary Eyed
7 Fair
8 The Bull and The Goat
9 Mama
10 Ida, My
11 Father
12 Sway