Cold in Berlin - Give Me Walls

  by Jon Rogers

published: 15 / 12 / 2010

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Review

The name Cold in Berlin conjures up images of Cold War paranoia and shady espionage capers undertaken by the likes of Michael Caine’s character Harry Palmer in ‘The Ipcress File’ or Carol Reed’s superb suspense thriller ‘The Third Man’ featuring Orson Welles. You’d think the musical equivalent would be all moody and eerie. This London-based four piece though play loud ‘n’ noisy (and a bit snotty at times) shouty punk pop. ‘Give Me Walls’ is vivacious, enthusiastic and lively, if a little brash at times. With an upfront female singer – Maya – the band can all too easy fit into a musical lineage encompassing the likes of Lydia Lunch, Courtney Love, Ari Up and Poly Styrene (amongst others) but clearly the nearest relative is Siouxsie Sioux (and its a very close relative at times). The band deliver an impressive calling card with the opening ‘God I Love You’ – all angular, jerky, post-punk that the likes of Wire and Gang of Four wouldn’t be embarrassed by. And a great opening verse with: “I had a girl and she was perfect So I decided I’d fuck her And even though she had a boyfriend Oh God I knew I had to have her.” And the energetic levels are kept up with the equally frenetic ‘Break My Bones’ and ‘Destruction’ as well as the possible album highlight ‘White Horse’. Cold in Berlin are at their best when they let rip and, ironically, start to fall apart, get a little ramshackle (although then again most bands are at their best in this state). They’re the sort of band that are probably so much better live than on record. ‘Give Me Walls’ though having much to praise it, still captures the band rather restricted by their influences, particularly singer Maya. Although far from being a carbon copy the influences are, at times, all too apparent. Still, Cold in Berlin are interesting now and no doubt will be even more so given a further six to twlce months and a chance to develop. But one word of warning. At times there are worrying signs of an 80's synth pop fixation, as exemplified on the likes of ‘Total Fear’. Hmm... But because of their youthful exuberance and passionate enthusiasm they can be excused their little indulgence.

Track Listing:-

1 God I Love You
2 Inertia
3 Destruction
4 White Horse
5 Total Fear
6 If You Take Me Apart
7 What Went Wrong
8 Your Noise
9 Break My Bones
10 Powerful Woman

Band Links:-

http://www.coldinberlin.com/
https://coldinberlin.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/coldinberlinb
https://twitter.com/coldinberlin
http://coldinberlin.tumblr.com/
https://instagram.com/coldinberlin/