published: 10 /
3 /
2013
Label:
HipHipHip
Format: CD
Gloriously upbeat indie pop on debut album from Sheffield-based band, Screaming Maldini
Review
If I had listened to this a day ago I would have actively hated it and shouted at it, “Go away with your youthful happiness. Don’t you know the world is going to absolute shit right now? What could you possibly be so happy about?”
Luckily, I am writing this today rather than hungover and jaded by the world. Screaming Maldini are, as I have just pointed out, something of an upbeat band – when taken at face value of course. I hate to over emphasise the band's happy leanings as this could give an impression of emptiness due to the sheer amount of terrible pop that presently exists but they are so, so much more than that.
Current single ‘Summer Somewhere’ is just glorious. Complete wth unusual time signatures and elaborate harmonies throughout, most notably on ‘Secret Sounds’ and ‘The Silver Mountain’, it show off vocalists Nick Cox and Gina Walters at their best.
‘The Extraordinary’ has more than an hint of Bloc Party’s Kele Okereke's solo work, with some surprisingly intricate guitar work giving an edge to it. Fans of Sufjan Stevens would also not be disappointed by this album, as it energy and positivity shines the whole way through.
‘Stutter’ shows the band's more laidback side and is a beach friendly tune which seems miles away from the steel city Sheffield, where the band are originally from.
It is essentially pop music, but pop music made in a good place for the right reasons and in which you don’t feel dirty after listening to it. Although the main feeling you get from Screaming Maldini is upbeat, their songs are jam packed full of fresh and original ideas.
Track Listing:-
1
The Awakening
2
Life in Glorious Stereo
3
Summer, Somewhere
4
Secret Sounds
5
I Know Thay You Know That I Would Wipe Away the Snowflake from Your Eye
6
The Dreamer
7
The Albatros
8
The Extraordinary
9
The Silver Mountain
10
Minor Alterations
11
Stutter
12
Four Hours from Now
Band Links:-
http://screamingmaldini.tumblr.com/
https://twitter.com/screamingmaldin
https://www.youtube.com/user/Screaming
https://www.facebook.com/screamingmald
http://www.screamingmaldini.co.uk/
http://screamingmaldini.bandcamp.com/
Label Links:-
http://hiphiphip-label.com/
https://hiphiphip.bandcamp.com/merch
https://www.facebook.com/Label-Hiphiph
https://twitter.com/Labelhiphiphip