Album Review

Born Blonde – What The Desert Taught You

• 25th Nov 2012

Born Blonde’s eagerly awaited debut album is basically a good collection of guitar pop songs. There’s been a great deal of media debate about whether to class them as Britpop, shoe gaze, space rock or some other musical sub genre, but for me Born Blonde simply have a modern sounding take on nineties rock.

What The Desert Taught You has a good deal of variety in it, which makes the whole categorisation discussion even more pointless. Much of the music is guitar based, but there are also a lot of good synth sounds in here. Arthur Delaney’s vocals have a slightly dreamy or spacey feel much of the time, but a harder edge does emerge on occasions. And the changes of pace throughout the album keep things interesting too,

The opening five minute long track Solar is a spaced out and slightly psychedelic. A lovely piano line and an acoustic guitar also feature and the vocals come in behind the instrumentation, giving a far away feel. It’s a nice track, although it doesn’t really give a good reflection of what is to come, acting more as an overture.

I Just Wanna Be, which contains the album’s title in its lyrics, is based on some fine guitar work, which sounds double tracked. The tone is even and smooth and there is an inspiring air to the lyrics. The Architect follows, another with a polished air to the lovely production that gives it a laid back feel. The swirling atmospheric synths and vocal harmonies give an almost choral feeling to the ending.

Light On, the stand out track of the album for me, has a more rocking rhythm with heavy bass and more expansive vocals. The anthemic chorus and twin guitars give it a harder feel than much of the album. It stands out nicely, adding much to the album simply by being that bit difference.

Radio Bliss is much like the early tracks, smooth and synth based before Signs Of Fear, the album’s first single, brings the guitars more to the fore again. The vocals are cleaner here and have an emotional edge as they soar. It’s very Britpop and will probably do well.

Dreamland is slower and a little flat, although the chorus does have a nice swell of sound that raises it up nicely. Other Side has lots of acoustic guitar and a lovely simple piano line that sparkles through the mix. The vocal harmonies are again very good here too.

These Days I Dream Of Pyramids is slow and atmospheric, a fine love song with a wonderful title. The closing Wide Eyed has a similar vibe and again some nice guitar work to give a smooth finish to the album, closing with one last synth burst.

Londoners Born Blonde have created a good debut album full of radio friendly, warm feeling and pleasant songs. There is an atmosphere of hazy introspection throughout the album, but also enough energy and drive to take it closer to rock that pop in places. As a debut album it gives the band plenty to build on in the future.

Venue: What The Desert Taught You
Support Band: Moriarty The Cat Records