{grate 3.5}The strange query “Do You Like Rock Music?” is boldly carved
on the cover sleeve of British Sea Power’s third album. The English foursome
sailed into the world of indie-rock on their Black Pearl of a debut The Decline
of British Sea Power, a hurricane-inducing album comparable to fuzzed-out
greats Jesus and Mary Chain and My Bloody Valentine. In 2005, BSP’s anthem-filled
sophomore release — a cleaner and more subdued collection than its predecessor
— was labeled by many as a product of commercial pressure. Now, three years
later, the band returns with a question.
The nature-preservation scouts of BSP appear heroically out
of coastal
as a marching beat amplifies in the opener “All in It,” and an arrangement of
violins and organs suddenly flourish as the sun rises above the horizon where
they stand. Such instrumentation creates an orchestral vibe similar to the
Arcade Fire, which isn’t much of a surprise (ex-Arcade Fire drummer Howard
Bilerman co-producered the record). Bilerman leaves traces of his work on the
“Haiti”-like “No Lucifer,” in which wrestler Big Daddy’s famous chant “Easy! Easy!
Easy!” is masked by band member/history buff Yan’s eerie vocals, “We can always
just say no/ To the anti-aircraft crew/ The boys from the Hitler youth.” The
band gets nostalgic on “Atom,” as energetic guitar riffs smash through the
speakers like fighter planes. Eight-minute showstopper “We Close Our Eyes” is a
built-up reprise of the opener “All in It,” leaving the audience stranded,
watching the ship sail away. BSP answers its title question with a resounding
“yes,” convincing us that — although somewhat tried — they can still defy
expectations.
