Cazals – What Of Our Future

• 14th May 2008

Right from the off Cazals ooze independence and free will, given the production touches of their own bassist, Martin Dubka through the brooding electro slanted ‘New Boy In Town’. This makes it easier for their manager and guitarist, Daniel Gallagher to garner the needed attention in order to spread their quaint mayhem.

Towards the start through ‘To Cut A Long Story Short’ this feral, earnest outfit builds in a frantic tale of worry and exasperation. They do this around a rugged melody, giving Dubka the chance to shine through his grinding bass harmonies that rub off the sternly rising vocals of Phil.

Initial impressions of these five electro slanted larrikins by many who have witnessed one of their early live shows, was good, but a tad one dimensional. However, this honest and revealing debut full-length could well give doubters enough of a glimpse of their oblique, slight electro/bass approach. This will enable them to get more into any future live set and appreciate some of the subtler touches. That may see them planted alongside Hot Chip in the inevitable reviews of the year, when the year 2008 is peered backed upon.

‘Comfortable Silence’, uses atmospheric implants to punctuate the bedraggled, but lucidly lingering vocals that display some cutting social commentary;

“We’re all part of the problem, look them in the eyes and then rob them.”

Past single, ‘Life Is Boring’ demonstrates a more rustic 70s gazing funk/punk approach and the lyrical simplicity, although slightly laboured and a little trite, does capture the feral disillusionment quite neatly. A striking build up to the crunching chorus grabs you from the start as though to say stuff it, we’ll do what the heck we want and people can stick their opinions into their The Killers collections. This punchy number smacks of independence and oozes just enough arrogance that is needed to get their point across, but it isn’t overbearing.

This impact is also prevalent in the Air Traffic merging with Boy Kill Boy and being joined at intervals by The Rezillos vibe of ‘Control OSS-117’. It helps to give the album’s midriff some ballsy life.

Gazing reflection starts to occur, aided by jaunty electro slides and well controlled percussion, as Phil’s vocals take a turn towards the impact of Jason Lytle (Grandaddy). ‘Both Sides’, could easily make up a novel application for a post with the U.N., as objective analysis of one of the most volatile situations known to mankind, a relationship breakdown, is given with rhythmic appreciation and a wise narrative.
Early criticism of Cazals supposed one-dimensional approach is now on relatively shaky foundations.

‘What Of Our Future’, is a debut that contains enough quirky, hooky material to ensure that this brand of cockney rattling and musing makes friends with the airwaves this summer.