Let’s start with a clean sheet and treat this as an album from a band, any band (a blind test?). In other words, forget the past and especially the 80’s. Now I’ve read reviews of this album and all go back into history in depth to discuss the present briefly. Fuck that! 2009 has (so far) been a brilliant album release year and so I can only compare this with the 2009 yardstick. And for any band, as good as they may be, that challenge is a toughie…

My initial impression is that SOUNDS OF THE UNIVERSE is a concept album with a ‘theme’ running through it, and (appropriately) using just about every sonic trick to make the point. The opener, ‘In Chains’, is therefore something of an introductory track with a long, rather dark electro/synth opening which becomes clearer/more solid just before the vocal enters. Synth sounds rise and fall punctuated by other sounds including brief guitar riffs. The melody is tangible and vocal excellent; in tune with the song’s vibe. Lyrically it’s fair rather than great (which applies generally to this album). A strong start. ‘Hole To Feed’ opens with stuttered drumbeats and lyrics that go from ordinary to excellent: “We are the earth, we can love, we said something, I’m sure that you mean the world to me… Words can leave you broken inside…” It’s monotone song relieved only by some fine rhythmic moments and occasional intrumental flurries. Not great but not bad either. ‘Wrong’ is the first single from the album and in this song collection stands out like a brightly sparkling jewel. It’s highly inventive, melodic, beautifully performed and magically produced. Lyrically it’s simple but very powerful. It’s a stunner! This is one song that I cannot wait to witness performed live…

‘Fragile Tension’ is next is more conventional pop-rock with fabulous synth and guitar moments peppering the song. This is one tune that I like more each time I play it (I’ve listed this one to play on our radio show). Interestingly, it’s a sound that I swear I’ve heard before (underneath the electronics). ‘Little Soul’ is next and crawls along in a rather uninteresting way with lyrics that are at best cryptic. However, I also found that the louder it’s played the better it sounds. ‘In Sympathy’ follows a similar route albeit with a stronger melody, more sonic diversity and improved lyrics. ‘Peace’ is another high point with its dramatic production, bass-driven vibe, soaring vocals, and massive melody.

‘Come Back’ opens with a stupendous, threatening electronic passage which continues to underpin a song with questionable lyrics and one of the weakest melodies on teh record… so good and bad news here. ‘Spacewalker’ is a pleasant instrumental interlude which reminds me of a soundtrack from a French movie. ‘Perfect’ is a beats-driven number that fails to rock my boat because it’s so ordinary. ‘Miles Away/The Truth Is’ is relatively simple in the sonic context of this album with vocals dominating (arguably for the first time here). The strong choruses do it for me and again I notice that the louder, the better (also ticked for airplay).

‘Jezebel’ is a ballad which arrives with a Latin beat and a simpler song structure. Not bad at all. ‘Corrupt’ concludes the album with the longest song here running at a tad under nine minutes. It’s epic and complex but herein lies the problem: there’s too much reliance on sounds and not enough on melody and the construction of powerful, memorable choruses. Lyrically in ain’t bad.

This has to be one of the most difficult reviews I’ve had to carry out. There are for me only three standout songs out of thirteen (which some may say is actually quite good for any album), but played loud even some of the weakest songs reveal strengths. I’m also not totally sure of what the totality of the content is trying to communicate although the theme of human frailties does seem to crop up several times. The other problem is that it takes many plays for some of these songs to register and in reviewer terms time is a constraint. So since I’m not a fence-sitter (and have given this album more time than is the norm) I would conclude that it’s one of the band’s better albums, if not their best. And since I’m not a fan I suppose that means something. At the same time I cannot at this point classify this album as one of the best I’ve heard this year, that will take a few more listens and definitely a live performance (when I believe many of these songs will shine more brightly).

3.9/5