Review: We Are Animal - Idolise

Info:

Name: We Are Animal

Album: Idolise

Style: Indie/Rock

Released: 2010

From: Wales

Facebook: www.facebook.com/weareanimal

Website: http://weareanimal5.bandcamp.com/

Alright, it's time to restart our international part of New Rock Reviews again. And it's again a Welsh band that gets the opportunity to prove themselves. I first saw We Are Animal as support for The Joy Formidable in Berlin in February and was quite impressed about their intense sound and creative music. So I thought I should buy the album but, unfortunately, it was already sold out before I had the opportunity to get it. So I sought for it everywhere on the net and finally found it on Amazon and it didn't take me long to decide whether I should buy it or not. Although “Idolise” is from 2010, I think the band definitely deserves a place on NRR 2013.

I don't remember the songs they played live too well because, as we all know, it's hard to remember songs that you just hear for the first time. Nevertheless, I'm absolutely sure that some tracks on “Idolise” were played live that night. The record's first song is “1268” and when I first listened to it I was quite disappointed about the sound of the guitars because I remembered them to be way more intense. Still, the tracks is absolutely worth listening to and my disappointment disappeared with “Unfold Fold”, the second song on the album. I remember that this song was played at their Berlin gig because I remember the crowd doing the backings and I already liked it then. In my opinion, the studio version is even better, because it's brilliantly produced and the way the guitars are played during the verse is just amazing. I guess this song will never leave my ears again. Ever.

The next highlight on the record is “Black Magic” with its verse (“We saw some movements up in the tree tops / Mind if we ask how you got so high”) making me think about people who want to reach out to the stars but never actually get up from their seats at first. Great lyrics for a great song. “Hunting” is a little difficult to warm up to. The monotonous guitars could cause a little headache to some inexperienced alternative rock listeners. Still, this song points out a certain variety on the album which shows that the band also tries other ways of writing songs and that, in my eyes, is a very good way of writing music when every other celebrated rock band only stays with the way they always write songs because they will definitely sell more with that approach.

The next four songs are my absolute favourites on the record. “No vacancy” is a prototype of what I call indie rock: variety, a little round-the-bend synthesizers and it still has the necessary rock sound. Another hit. “Empire” is another great example for that style of music. I love the slightly strident sound of the guitars and the lyrics remind me of the situation of Wales' English neighbour:

„ We have a fallen empire

that's the word on the streets

we have many conversations

but we don't mention defeat“

The lyrical change during the chorus from “Fallen empire” to “Your fallen empire” even gives it a little mocking touch.

Following „Empire“, I get another dose of synthesizers during the beginning of "Benin". The guitars are joining in at the pre-chorus and the vocals remind me of The Doors. Again We Are Animal could be the ideal example for every want-to-be indie rock band. “Feeding Off the Energy” is my absolute favourite on “Idolise”. A rhythm which would make everybody love rock music makes me think: Even after 45 minutes of this song I would still need more of it.

“No machine” gives me a little and well deserved break after so much brilliant indie rock music and this break is continued by “Clean Up and Run”. The only ballad on the record convinces me with a little mystical sounds but also makes me think of my only point of criticism. Welsh lyrics would have suited this song great but, unfortunately, there are none.

Indie rock continues with “Super Overdrive” which is an absolutely catchy tune and will never leave me again. But then again, that's what comes to my mind after nearly every song on this record. I can not find any more bad criticism, especially as the last song “Animals” is another hit and leaves me saying to everyone who didn't see this band live yet: Go out of your house, catch a plane to Wales (if you don't live there already) and go see them live.

Conclusion: “Idolise” is a great debut and I for one can't wait for more. It's a shame, that I don't give the highest amount of points for a debut because you always have to leave some space for improvement, otherwise We Are Animals would have gotten more points for this record. I still give them:

8 out of 10 points

Listen to: “Unfold Fold”, “Black Magic”, Empire”, “Feeding Off the Energy”, “Animals

Tracklist:

1. 1268

2. Unfold Fold

3. Black Magic

4. Hunting

5. No Vacancy

6. Empire

7. Benin

8. Feeding Off the Energy

9. No Machine

10. Clean Up and Run

11. Super Overdrive

12. Animals

Members:

Owain Ginsberg

Cynyr Hamer

Dion Hamer

Liam Simpson

Carwyn Ginsberg