These are interesting times for Bell X1, uncertain but exciting. While their departure from Island Records came as something of a shock (jumped? pushed? a bit of both?) they have entered the world of independence on a surer footing than most. They’ve two huge summer gigs in the diary, and a debut release on their own label documenting their Point headliner at the end of last year. The thinking behind such a release was probably manifold. Not only does it maintain their profile as one of the top three Irish bands of the moment, it also buys them time to figure out what to do next.
Tour De Flock is much more than a holding pattern, though. A beautifully packaged DVD and CD, it also serves as an introduction to those who Bell X1 have previously passed by. In that respect, what’s most striking is (for an undeniably popular band) how unpopulist they actually are. This is not a live album filled with huge, chest-beating anthems. Instead Bell X1 work on an intimate scale, projecting their thoughts and emotions on to the larger stage.
Mostly it works, although the experience is actually better in audio than the less-than-riveting visual version. The low-key nature of the material means that, on the occasions when their songs do take flight for higher ground (‘Eve, Apple Of My Eye’, ‘Rocky Took A Lover’, ‘Flame’) they sound for all the world like they could challenge the Snow Patrols et al.
Whatever the circumstances, this feels very much like the closing of a chapter, a farewell to something. What next? I guess we’ll have to wait and see.