Los Campesinos - No Blues (Turnstile)

Cardiff-based indie rockers Los Campesinos! are known for their love of leftfield art-rock outfits such as Sonic Youth and Yo La Tengo, and indeed frontman Gareth Campesinos! has been known to champion early ’90s Riot Grrrl acts like Huggy Bear, the type of band not really on the syllabus for most young musicians. Surprising to discover, then, that Los Campesinos! have taken something of a commercial turn on No Blues, which features several stirring, anthemic tracks of the sort that Arcade Fire specialise in.
The likes of ‘For Flotsam’, ‘What Death Leaves Behind’ and ‘Avocado, Baby’ are all frenetic guitars, galloping drums and dramatic vocals, with the band unashamedly aiming for sweeping grandeur. At times, such as on ‘As Lucerne/The Low’ – wherein Gareth does what sounds rather like a Win Butler impersonation – the group may as well be an Arcade Fire tribute act. The more low-key, melancholic ‘Glue Me’ recalls the band’s art-rock origins. Overall, arena-sized bombast is the order of the day.
Unfortunately, Los Campesino! lack the melodic flair and deft lyrical touch of Win and co, so their efforts come across as a bit unfocused and overblown. One or two exciting moments apart, No Blues is a disappointment given the undoubted talent of the band. Hopefully next time they’ll rediscover the idiosyncratic streak that made them so appealing in the first place.

Key Track: 'What Death Leaves Behind'