The two new musical acts today hail from Merrie, England, and while their music may be classified as pop/rock, they’re both quite different in terms of musical approach. What is common with the two is they shine with quality and taste, auguring well for the future of British music.
Bastille — Bad Blood (Virgin/MCA). I thought highly of the new British band when I first heard the single Pompeii, with the imaginative conceit of the song’s narrator being there as Pompeii is engulfed by volcanic ash. When you add how another choice track, Laura Palmer, is inspired by David Lynch’s directorial work, you just know this is a band that revels in being proud about their references. Icarus, These Streets and Weight of Living Part II are other immediate favorites. With great hooks in their chorus; at times, traces of ’80s bands like Duran Duran, and ballads that are very Coldplay, there’s a lot going for the band. Pop with a spark of intelligence has found a new champion in the band, and their love for cinema is evident in the CD’s jacket design. Solid!
Tom Odell — Long Way Down (Columbia/Sony). Classically trained on the piano, Tom calls Chichester home, but may soon be claimed by the whole world as the latest in a string of sensitive singer/songwriters. James Blunt is one act who could be considered a precursor to Tom’s type of music. Plaintive, defiant and with tons of ache in his songs, Tom projects himself as an old soul who has found his voice in music. His first track, Grow Old With Me, opens with piano bars reminiscent of very early Elton John, but when his voice comes on, we’re whisked to a different kind of pop sensibility. I loved the title track, Sirens, I Know and Sense. Tom is the winner of New Performer award in the recent Brit Awards. His songs have already cropped up on various soundtracks.