Baltic Fleet - Towers

  by Anthony Strutt

published: 31 / 8 / 2012

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Review

'Towers' is the second album from Baltic Fleet, the instrumental project of Paul Fleming, the one-time keyboardist with Echo & the Bunnymen. Unlike Baltic Fleet's 2008 eponymous debut album, which featured both guitarist Will Sergeant and their former bassist Pete Wilkinson, 'Towers' does not involve any other Bunnymen at all. The opening title track instantly builds up a fast pace with its killer hooks, and sounds in its cinemascopic glorylike an electro Echo & the Bunnymen. 'March of the Saxons' has a swaggering Cure sound, recalling 'Pictures of You', but with aggressive electro grooves. It will be an instant dance floor hit with the alternative trendy crowd. 'Towers' was between Liverpool and Manchester in Paul's native Warrington, and 'Headless Heroes of the Acropolis' again has a Northern gritty feel about it.It is heavy on the bass and has Talking Heads-influenced guitar work, while Paul's keyboards dance firmly over the top of it. 'Engage' is like an electronic the Wedding Present, dancey but fast, while 'The Wilds' recalls early Soft Cell with its great grooves and in its intelligent electronica. 'Winds of the 84 Winter' is more doom-laden, recollecting the Cure again, but this time is reminiscent of their dark early 80's albums, 'Faith' and 'Pornography'. 'Hunting Witches' with its abrasive melodies and wired sound, is almost like Public Image Ltd and their debut single, 'Public Image'. 'Toire De' is catchy and fast-paced. while 'Midnight Train' has a swagger to it. Edgy guitar drifts in and out of it in a style that will please any goth. 'Reno' is a cinemascopic comedown, ending this fully instrumental masterpiece.

Track Listing:-

1 Towers
2 March of the Saxons
3 Headless Heroes of the Acropolis
4 Engage
5 The Wilds
6 Winds of the 84 Winter
7 Hunting Witches
8 Toire De
9 Midnight Train
10 Reno

Band Links:-

http://www.balticfleetmusic.com/
https://www.facebook.com/BalticFleet
https://twitter.com/BalticFleetUK

Label Links:-

http://www.blowup.co.uk/records
https://www.facebook.com/blowuprecords
https://plus.google.com/+BlowUpRecords
https://twitter.com/BlowUpRecords
https://www.youtube.com/user/blowuprec
https://www.instagram.com/blowupimages