Kildare heroes Miracle Bell have concocted a convincing musical offering that sounds cleverly thought out and produced, rather than merely recorded. Along the way it has echoes of Muse, Depeche Mode, Duran Duran and Bloc Party among others, but, with singer Dave Prendergast a towering presence throughout, and John Broe’s inventive, guitar work, and John Ringey’s percussive drive, it rarely strays from being unmistakably Miracle Bell.
The opener ‘Thank You Computer Man’ is a steaming amalgam of indie-dance and electronic rock that raises the bar for what follows. ‘Future Kings’ is a classy flashback to seventies synth-pop, with great vocals, with and without effects, while ‘Love Sounds’ takes a heavier tack with impressive west coast (America, not Mayo) vocals. ‘Light Shape Sound’ takes the west coast vibe even further, and the track has a sparkling arrangement and great percussive effects too. There’s a commendable retro-intelligence at work in ‘Fit For Love’, while ‘Inhale-Exhale’ revs up into a serious scorcher.
The production on this album bears the input of both Ciaran Bradshaw and Gareth Mannix who, working with a band whose musical sensibilities range from the brighter end of the pop spectrum to deeper and darker sonic regions, have turned in an album that has a commendable shot at capturing the zeitgeist of musical Ireland 2010. Listen up.