This is second CD cover I have reviewed which has featured an image of "breast cupping" - for want of a better description. A strange phenomenon in design which will feature again in my next review, just to prove that I'm paying attention to my own plan to find CD covers with a similar concept.
To me, this cover image looked reasonably militant with a hint of pink revolution and with the Set Yourself On Fire title I could only predict an energetic album full of modern-day punk anger. Track titles such as Your Ex-Lover Is Dead, The Big Fight and Soft Revolution provide further evidence for my theory and it was a good enough assumption to make my purchase.
I was completely wrong. Your Ex-Lover Is Dead opens with the vocal sample "When there's nothing left to burn, you have to set yourself on fire" and with that you expect it to be followed by an explosion of drums and guitars......and noise. But no, it is followed by a gentle orchestral intro building into quite a delicate and thoughtful indie-guitar track, all nicely backed with strings and a knowing sway. As soon as the second track Set Yourself On Fire flickers through the speakers it confirms that have I been duped, this isn't going to be the gritty, raw sound of violent rebellion, it is the dainty sound of art school poets with violins, cellos and glockenspiels.
There's a real charm about the male/female vocals that interchange on the majority of tracks and the lyrics give a glimpse of other people's lives, intimate yet never fully revealed. Tracks such as Celebration Guns and He Lied About Death also provide a worldly commentary about the bigger picture, quietly cutting and eloquent rather than aggressive table-thumping.
The album does have moments of fuzz and fire but it is the stories of relationships and fumblings such as The First Five Times and One More Night which really provide the most fun. Any frenetic moments are well-controlled and the downbeat sections are lovingly crafted and overall there's a terrific blend of indie rock, atmospheric electronics and classy orchestration.
This is not the type of music I usually listen to but I really enjoyed it.
Top Tracks: Your Ex-Lover Is Dead, Ageless Beauty, What I'm Trying To Say, One More Night,
Verdict: Pass - a soft revolution is still a revolution.
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