Album Review

Official Secrets Act – Understanding Electricity

• 13th Apr 2009

Electro pop/rock/synth/blah its everywhere at the moment and there aren’t any signs it might stop sometime soon. No, if anything it keeps finding new leases of life, searching the 80’s for a sound or melody not quite borrowed or scrounged. That’s not to say some of the bands that have appeared haven’t been jolly good, its just that most have been utter sh*te. Thankfully then Official Secrets Act belong to the former camp, even if their name is a bit daft.

Whilst ‘Mainstream’ is the kind of song most record label execs literally wet themselves over and whilst it is a devilishly addictive song it doesn’t hold a candle to what happens straight after its three minutes are up. ‘So Tomorrow’ will take a millisecond longer to implant its infectious melody in your brain but once its there it stays for far longer, eating away at your resolve and forcing you to actually remember every single word within days.

OSA may suffer from a severe bout of unoriginality (who doesn’t these days) there are just so many good songs on this album its tough to choose which ones to mention. ‘Bloodsports’ sounds like the work of a band in love with Ultravox, ‘Victoria’ wouldn’t sound out of place on a (good) Strokes album and ‘Hold The Line’ is a chirpy ode to love.

Whilst the music is fantastic, in Tom Charge Burke, OSA have a dynamic, bookish front man who has the ability to communicate to an audience the feelings and achievements we all endure throughout life. Oh and his voice is a dream.

All in all OSA have it made. Catchy, melody filled songs, incredible front man and daft name ensure you’ll be hearing a lot more from these guys over the coming months.