We’ve all heard the phrase ‘indie by numbers’, implying that an indie band have created their music by following a basic formula. But watch out; it can get even more basic than that: ever seen those watercolour books that already have blobs of paint in the areas to be filled in, so all you have to do is smudge in the colour? It's about as prefab as you can get. This evening I am unfortunately reminded of those books as I observe the final night of Tokyo Police Club’s European tour. Their set begins unremarkably with noise of chugging drums, vaguely muddy guitars and a simplistic keyboard melody which all but drowns out the former components.
Three songs in and I suspect they’re using the same bass line for each song - so samey is the music. At one point a slightly fuzzier guitar sound threatens to rock things up – but the band spoil things by acting like stadium rock stars; front man David Monks is pumping his fist while keyboard player Graham Wright furiously mops his brow with a towel. Put quite simply, the band are trying too hard to turn this into some sort of indie pop riot. At one point they literally ask the kids at the front to “mosh around a bit more”. Despite all this, there is one song tonight worthy of some jumping up and down action – and that’s the single ‘Your English Is Good’. It’s may sound like watered-down-Bloc-Party but at least it’s got those kids at the front ‘moshing around a bit more’. Indie by numbers may be a basic formula but it’s not as basic as it could be and is clearly a formula that still works.
Best new band in Glasgow, by a mile!
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Tokyo Police Club
Shame, isn't it, that they've turned out to be such a mediocre bunch after the cracking "A Lesson In Crime" EP which showed so much promise...
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