The Victorian English Gentlemens Club is an indie rock/art punk rock band which formed in 2004 in Cardiff, Wales. The band consists of Adam Taylor (vocals, guitar), Dan Lazenby (guitar), Louise Mason (bass, vocals) and Steph Jones (drums). The band was formed by Taylor, Mason and drummer Emma Daman, who left the band in early 2009 and after her departure the band expanded to include Lazenby and Jones. LOVE ON AN OIL RIG is the band’s second album.

Fed up with over-polished, over-produced, squeaky-clean, indie radio-fodder? Then step on board folks for a bumpy ride, make sure your seat belts are firmly engaged and just get those airbags checked… The reason becomes pretty obvious with the briefest of opening salvos, ‘Love On An Oil Rig.’ Sweet, youthful vocals welcome you in before thrashed guitars and drums quickly see you out the door. ‘Parrot’ progresses under a deathly, hammered drum rhythm and bellowing bass guitar, while vocals are freestyle including far-flung football crowd  backing harmonies. ‘Watching The Burglars’ sees the band employ something called a melody, backed by a hasty drum rhythm that actually slows as it approaches the end of the song. The solo and backing vocals seem to operate to something resembling a plan - not bad. ‘Bored In Belgium’ is one of the album’s highlights - it should be called the ‘la,la, la, la, la, la’ song with the amount of it that goes on here. Actually it’s a rampant romp underpinned by a tangible melody and a very different set of solo punk vocals. 

Yup, I’m still here… ’Worker’ employs Tex-Mex guitar underbelly that you’d expect to find in a Tarantino movie. Over the top is a vocal rant. The final track is the album’s standout track. ‘I Say What I Want’ is a rhythmic stunner that tracks like a semi-trailer trying to navigate a rocky beach.  The vocals are the best on the album and one is actually able to hear what’s being sung. The swooning backing vocals are tremendous while the band has allowed Mr Melody back in. A fabulous foot-stomping track!

These guys are doing things their way and I hope they live to tell the tale because they deserve to. No, it’s not a great album but it’s a balsy and honest one with a couple of very strong highlights that I would (and have) played on my radio show.  There’s a bewildering range of sonic experiences here too and you really can’t predict what’s coming next. I’d like to see the band perform live to see the audience reaction. My guess is that a photo pass would be next to useless because I wouldn’t stand still long enough to take a single steady shot.

3.5/5