27 May 2011
virgin.comJoe Brewin
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It's been four years in the making, but Tellison are
finally back. Since the critically-acclaimed release of 'Contact!
Contact!' back in 2007, it's all been a little quiet on the London
quartet's front.
Has the wait been worth it all? Well, put simply, a resounding yes.
Fans of the debut record will be pleased to hear that the band have
continued from where they left off with a bang - catchy indie-pop
jangles aplenty, 'Wages of Fear' is a triumphant return from the abyss.
Produced by Peter Miles - the man behind the likes of Frank Turner and the King Blues - there should be little doubt that the band's difficult return to prominence is an altogether more polished accomplishment.
Kicking off with the soft piano chords of ‘Get On', the track soon
descends into force with its crashing cymbals and foot-tapping pop
trademarks. Elements of doubt into lead singer Stephen Davidson's
self-confidence are questioned with the line, "I picked up some moves
in my youth and I'm scared that I've lost them". Don't worry Stephen -
on this album's evidence, you haven't.
It's a reasonable opener, but it's bettered quickly by album
highlight ‘Say Silence (Heaven & Earth)'. Fans of Contact! Contact!
rejoice - brimming math-rock energy and dazzling enthusiasm, ‘Say
Silence' is a rollercoaster of classic Tellison.
The melodic beauty of ‘Know Thy Foe' passes by neatly, before
‘Collarbone' blasts its way onto the scene with its killer kick drums
and sharp guitar riffs. Grab a beer and light up the barbecue, this one
should be making your summer playlist.
‘Freud Links the Teeth and the Heart' is a rare blemish on an
otherwise excellent record, its bizarre heart-felt lyrics to a French
dentist somewhat baffling to say the least. "I've got teeth problems, it
hurts when I open my mouth, pain comes out" - Come on chaps you're
better than that.
But no matter, redemption soon arrives with the epic ‘Horses'. The
heavier instalments of Wages of Fear are its undoubted highlights, and
this proves no exception. Its brazen guitar chords and thumping drums
provide the perfect introduction to a slick bassline. It proves a dark
side rarely heard from the band, but one that should prove
instantaneously refreshing for listeners new or old.
The tribal ‘Tell It to the Thebes' kicks off with the delicate hum of
lead guitar, before sparking into life with its crescendo of purring
drums and scratching guitar riffs. There are plenty of layers to admire
here, a dynamic achievement that may see this go down as one of the
tracks of the year.
‘Letters From Pre-Med' is soaked in anthemic lyrics and power-pop
credentials, while ‘Vermont' sees the third track of the album with
vocals from lead guitarist Pete Phillips - a recognisable shift from its predecessor.
The elegantly catchy ‘Edith' drops by with a chorus destined to be a
sure-fire hit, but Davidson's doubts flare up again with the line, "My
life's like so much like a novel, it's hard to see the beauty in it
sometimes".
Album finale ‘My Wife's Grave is in Paris' provides a beautiful
ending to an excellent record, trading vigour for earnest emotions with
great success. Building up spectacularly, it ensures Wages of Fear ends
on a stunning high note.
Filled to the brim with fun, melody, sadness and sorrow, Tellison's
second effort could well prove one of the year's finest offerings.
Matured, refined and lyrically sharper, here's to this quartet breaking
into the mainstream sooner rather than later. Just don't leave us
waiting for another four years, boys.