Album Review

The Pure Conjecture – Gendres

• 7th Oct 2013

The Pure Conjecture is a ten-piece indie rock meets soul ensemble, fronted by Cardiff singer songwriter Matt Eaton. His backing includes Martin Noble (British Sea Power), Thomas and Alex White (Electric Soft Parade / Brakes), Andrew Mitchell (The Hazey Janes), Johny Lamb (Thirty Pounds Of Bone), Marc Beatty (Brakes / The Tenderfoot), Darren Moon (The Tenderfoot), Steve Grainger (nada / Elevator Suite) and Julian Baker (Pendragon). This is the second album from this collective, following 2012’s Courgettes.

Gendres is a real mixed bag of an album. There are some highs amongst its nine songs, but it is such an eclectic mix of styles and influences that in the end it feels rather thrown together. Perhaps the sheer number of musicians involved simply makes any sort of theme or consistency impossible.

I Just Want You To Love Me has a real soul vibe, a simple and melodic track sung with feeling. And Midnight Dancing is perhaps what Eaton was aiming for, a song with a good guitar sound, a great bass line and plenty of soul too. Album closer Though I’d Get Along Without You also works well, an emotional break up song.

There are other tracks that don’t fit the indie/ soul theme yet are still decent. Opener Roadworks On Memory Street is a guitar heavy track with a touch of humour about an average man who is average in every way. The instrumental Surfin’ Sunset has a great rhythm and starts slowly before growing to something with surf rock influences. The soft piano and violin opening to Opinion Fatigue, possibly the best song on the album, leads into a lovely slow track with languid vocals and some soulful sax. And then from nowhere a massive organ sound with some superb vocal harmonies on top appears, taking it in a totally different direction.

There are others that don’t really work at all. Mr Tong is a rather dull, almost easy listening track while Dictators is so slow that it drags. Although this one starts with a wonderful line, “Even dictators make time for coffee in the mornings”, it is ultimately a rather long five minutes listening.

The Pure Conjecture is an interesting project and Matt Eaton clearly has some good songwriting ideas. His slow vocal style suits the more soulful tracks here, but at times it all seems to lack a spark. Ultimately Gendres is an uneven album that has taken a very good idea – mixing indie and soul to create a warm and satisfying sound – but hasn’t really followed through on the promise it gives. There are several songs well worth listening to though and I’ll be interested to see what comes next.

Venue: Gendres
Support Band: Armellodie Records