While they’re not always good, big bands (ie lots of members) are usually at least interesting. Case in point – '90s London scenesters World Of Leather: 13 guitarists, awful, but quite something to behold live.
Of late we’ve had Polyphonic Spree, Go! Team, Arcade Fire, Hidden Cameras and Broken Social Scene; none of whom deal in straight down the middle indie rock. The Concretes number seven plus about 15 honorary members and are rather good.
The first observation on this, compared to their self-titled debut, is the simple one of just how appropriate the title is. While that album tended to mirror the stark black and white feel of its cover, In Colour has a much greater depth to it and a far richer sound.
Victoria Bergsman’s deadpan vocals will always lend a downbeat feel to proceedings, yet this time it does actually sound as though fifteen odd people are beavering away behind her. The results are vibrant and surprisingly poppy, albeit pop with a cool, detached view of the world.
Romeo Stodart of The Magic Numbers is a new addition to their honorary roll call and it’s entirely appropriate – like the Numbers The Concretes are proof that even the oddest outsiders can sometimes crash the party.