Hoorah! The third album from the Dublin’s Bell X1 has arrived and what a joyous thing it is too. I have had the immense pleasure of seeing the Bell boys live on three occasions and it’s still a kick to hear songs debuted at gigs, in all their full new album glossiness. As established fans will know, Bell X1 named themselves after the first plane to break the sound barrier. Listening to ‘FLOCK‘ may cause a few breakages of its own, mainly from spinning around rooms in giddy delight.

Paul Noonan’s voice is as glorious as ever - and with a self consciously more singles-oriented feel, listening to ‘FLOCK‘ is like running down a hill really fast with your coat wrapped round your neck. Like Travis at their sunniest or Radiohead at their least melancholic, sprinkle with a little of Neil Hannon’s leprechaun dust and Bob’s yer Dad’s brother! Music this lovely should be prescribed on the NHS. If you don’t fall in love with Bell X1 immediately, you deserve to have your ears confiscated.

dwilliamz - Solihull.UK

NME said Bell X1 were ‘Radiohead as Radiohead should sound now’ - Nope, Bell X1 are far, far better. Three five star albums in a row? Even U2 didn’t find their feet this quickly. Let’s hope that FLOCK finds the audience it deserves when it’s released in Scotland, Wales and England. It hit number one in Eire last month, and if there’s any justice will do the same across the channel in February. Check out the debut NEITHER AM I, featuring one of their best songs ‘Little Sister‘ and their second album, MUSIC IN MOUTH (so good it must be bad for you) and you’ll be wondering how you’ve missed them for so long.

Pixiepoison

Well, having only gotten into Bell X1 recently, I bought both FLOCK and MUSIC IN MOUTH at the same time. Somehow instinctively I listened to MUSIC IN MOUTH first and thought to myself, ‘oh, good god, these guys are amazing.’ Then I heard FLOCK and I was completely gob-smacked that they produced two of these in a row. FLOCK is just a brilliant mix of amazing tunes and fantastic lyrics that really speak to you. I find myself listening intently to what they are saying. Paul Noonan’s voice is absolutely divine, his range is incredible, and this album (like its predecessor) speaks volumes to you. I think that everybody should buy this, it’s not only a brilliant CD but a learning experience. Fantastic Flock!!!

A music fan from Ireland

The Shake Verdict

Bell X1 are one of Shake’s favourite sons; they are Irish for a start and we do seem to love bands from the Emerald Isle; but of course it’s not just that they are Irish, it’s that they have constantly delivered top notch records, and here comes another one…

Fans of Keane, Starsailor, Morning Runner and Athlete best get their mummy’s purse out, get those silver coins in their hands and be ready to buy this record, for it not only stands next to those albums and bands, but in fact offers so much more. The album has a slight retro feel to it, not in a generic way, but the kind that evokes the feeling, such as track 3, ‘Rocky Took A Lover’ which certainly made me think of Talking Heads. And there are others on this record that certainly will make you feel right at home, and it’s no bad thing, because straight out of the box this record feels at home. And you get the impression that it’s been around longer that you have been aware of, that you loved them before you heard them, which you did, it’s a clever trick and one some of the greatest bands of all time have managed. It makes the band special, makes them stand out, makes them sound fresh as well as old at the same time. As I said, clever…

They of course have the added advantage of being able to deliver in a live setting, and having seen the band play this album just makes me want to scream ‘c’mon’ at the thought of them delivering it live -the songs are just so good, so well structured, so well delivered, with fantastic production that lets the album breathe. And yes, those Radiohead comparisons are justified for once. I have been playing this album on the way to work all week and it just gets better and better. My standout track changes everyday, today it’s ‘Bad Skin Day.’ I don’t know why, I know tomorrow it may change, it’s that kind of record.. These albums don’t come along that often, and you should embrace them when they do; for the way they make you feel now is how they will make you feel in five, ten or twenty years time. Now that’s the sign of a great album…

5/5. Jj-2006.

Nice to know that Shake was right, yet again, about a band that the UK media ignored for so long….

ED