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< Interpol
Our Love To Admire
words by Tom Stopp
Interpol have always been a mystical bunch. When Carlos D’s Nazi-chic wardrobe accompanied the band’s haunting 2002 debut, ‘Turn On The Bright Lights’, we were all instantly hypnotised by the band’s post-Joy Division gloom-rock. Its follow-up (‘Antics’) may have failed to appear as original and as spellbound with thick black magic but ‘Slow Hands’ and ‘Evil’ arguably contributed to the band selling out Alexandra Palace for a show later this year, before any fan had heard ‘Our Love To Admire’. For those who applauded the brave new direction of fellow New Yorkers The Strokes last year, this album will appear too safe and in turn pointless. For those against change, it’s Interpol doing what they do best. Paul Banks’ vocals are still as sinister – but also as alluring – as the dark night streets of his native Manhattan, and in being so attention-grabbing keep your finger away from the skip button, even if there aren’t particularly any massive tunes here (‘All Fired Up’ and ‘The Heinrich Maneuver’ coming close to lingering in your subconscious). Sounding probably too much like Interpol, ‘Our Love To Admire’ remains a steady 7, we just don’t know why.
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