Victorian English Gentlemens Club - Love On An Oil Rig

There’s been so many bloody great albums released this year that it makes me fearful for the future, and a possible drought. Along with Future of the Left’s ‘Travels With Myself And Another’, this has made that little bit of difference to the usual monotonous trudge of modern day living.

It’s not only me either. As soon as I’d popped the CD into my laptop and started listening, with iTunes silently scrobbling away to Last FM as I did so, I was receiving messages from people practically foaming at the mouth to get their mits on these tracks. (disclaimer: If there has been a leak of this yet, it wasn’t me!)

I have to admit to concern also. Concern that losing Emma on drums, and not only replacing her with a guy, but adding another member was going to bastardise and destroy a band which were a glimmering light of obscure hope in a the dull dull sky of pish music that I was lost in for a long time – I’m pretty sure you won’t blame me for the reservations.

Such naivety. Single ‘Parrot’ aside (after all, we can all have one off good track on an album), I was happy to be proven completely wrong. There wasn’t a change of direction as such, more like moving from fourth to fifth gear. Whilst I adore the debut, after hearing this, I realise that the recording is a bit flat in comparison – ‘Love On An Oil Rig’ has got balls, and a much greater depth of recording than its predecessor. The music has got a bit darker with the progression, or maybe it’s just like a shadow being deeper, and giving the illusion of being darker.

There’s so many vocal playings on this album, which is a weakness of mine. I love when people use their voice in a way that you couldn’t just reel off in a predictable fashion – you know how it is: Next time one of these generic-rock-shit bands are on MTV2 or whatever other mainstream dross, try predict the next note that their singer will move to. There’s no such possibility with this record – Adam makes sure of that. The most notable person that springs to mind who let his voice do what it wanted, and not force it into a box would be Kurt Cobain, although I’ll probably get pelters for mentioning that.

I could go through the tracks and give you a run-down, but it’s pointless. This album is brilliant. Go buy it.

‘Love On An Oil Rig’ is released on This Is Fake DIY Records as a CD, download and 12” on the 7th September 2009.

UPDATE:

Since publishing, I’ve been informed that the album was actually recorded with the old lineup, but from what I’ve seen of Steph and Dan live, the n00bs are well suited to live up to the standards the new record sets.

Tracklisting:
1. Love On An Oil Rig
2. Parrot
3. Watching The Burglars
4. Bored In Belgium
5. Periscope Envy
6. Worker
7. Driver’s Companion
8. Women Versus Children
9. God Save Us From Being So Damn Primitive
10. Dog
11. The Venereal Game
12. I Say What I See