Album Review

The Red Partizans – The Red Partizans

• 15th Nov 2009

A good way to see what a new band might be about is to have a look at their top eight myspace friends. Windsor trio Red Partizans have Nirvana, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Pearl Jam and Jeff Buckley in theirs. So we might assume they’re angsty, funky, hard rockin’ emotional types. And, judging by their self-titled debut album, we’d be pretty much on the money.

The production could fairly be described as bare bones, which is a blessing and a curse; though sometimes lacking a little oomph, the basic guitar-bass-drums sound also gives the songs here an endearing rawness, something which complements the naked angst of Nikola Milan’s vocals. That’s not to say this album is lacking in big moments; there’s shades of Pearl Jam on the arena-sized chorus of ‘Seven miles away’, to name one standout number.

Milan’s voice has a polarising quality, it’s cracked yet melodic, quite grunge-influenced, with a sincerity, brought out by the pained lyrics, that might be considered unfashionable in the age of indie irony, though I find it refreshingly direct and well-suited to the brief, punchy tracks that populate this CD. Add in similarly forthright riffage and you have a poweful, in-your-face rock sound. It’s not for everybody, but this a very convincing stab at a debut album.