Album Review

Spring Offensive – Pull Us Apart

• 26th Jul 2010

On initial greeting with the name ‘Spring Offensive’ I thought I was going to meet a teenage kicks style band that were kitted out in Vans and producing some kind of alternative grunge ‘music’. They couldn’t be more different.
Not only are these five guys from Oxfordshire and keeping that organic English music breathing they’re filled with indie alternative charm. Recently touring with the likes of Frank Turner they have become admired in their local surroundings, but with new album Pull Us Apart set for release they hope to spread their music further.

These boys have a sound quite similar to Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly and lead vocalist reveals hints of a Keith Murray tone to his voice. So, it’s no wonder they’re being admired by BBC radio presenters. Tunefully this album is uncomplicated and effortless to the ear but listen closely and discover a clever tangle of intriguing lyrics that set it apart. Lyrics that have been penned with great thought and delivered deceptively dark. There are also plenty of riffs, drums and emotion laid across the seven tracks.

Opening with ‘I Found Myself Smiling’ which delicately leads listeners to false pretences with its mellow vocals, gradually getting more intense and piercing as it travels along. Then there is ‘Every Coin’ which involves marching/parade style drums and claps that keep you listening on and on with its repetitive lyrics ‘every other will follow, as long as it takes, every coin must be swallowed’.

There are many others tracks just as individual throughout this mixture. Pull Us Apart is a somewhat distinctive and sharp album, that even though musically doesn’t set itself apart initially, lyrically the writing that has been carefully crafted, has developed some inspired songs just by the words alone.

Listen. Then listen again and you’ll find something very mesmerising each time you do.