THE CONCRETES
In Colour
EMI
· The Swedish octet look to add some colour to their palette with their second full-length.
In Colour is quite a departure from The Concretes’ self-titled first album. They’ve traded in a Spectorized wall of sound style for a midwestern twang, courtesy of longtime Saddle Creek producer Mike Mogis. The songs on In Colour are markedly more upbeat, although still morose in spots, like on the breakup duet with lead singer Victoria Bergsman and Magic Numbers’ Romeo Stodart, "Your Call." Where the chorus cleverly switches the emphasis on the you to alternate between "I call / you hang up" and "I call you / hang up," illustrating the grey areas and breakdowns in communication often present in breakups.
The album features numerous guests, including Mogis and current shining Swede Jens Lekman. The Concretes also make use of every instrument available to them, from glockenspiel to pump organ to well-stocked horns and strings sections. Their skilful songwriting and mastery of their instruments comes out best on the closing track, "Song for the Songs."
With this bold move in a different direction, The Concretes show a sense of adventure and strength of vision indicating some excellent work still to come.
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