Review Summary: A tasty follow-up, but one which still leaves plenty of space in your stomach waiting to be filled.
New bands are great and all, but it can often be hard to know what you should expect of them. Obviously you would always hope that they will show improvement over time, but should this be by the way of slow and subtle developments or rapid musical progressions? Some bands have always been more likely to reach the peaks of greatness than others, but a good and promising debut album can always give you hope that the band in question will one day reach the top. Although it was by no means groundbreaking or innovative, Blood Red Shoes’ 'Box Of Secrets' was one of those records, as it gave off the air of a band who were genuinely worth getting excited about. Yes, Laura-Mary Carter’s riffs were straight out of ‘90’s Seattle, but their sheer energy when combined with Simon Ansell’s possessed drum attack was exhilarating at times, and you got the feeling that with a little improvement they could develop their sound into something rather special.
The thing is such hope can also lead to expectation, which in such cases can become exaggerated beyond what should reasonably be predicted. No one really expected Blood Red Shoes to come out with a complex masterpiece second time around (or for that matter, any time in the near future), but what was expected was progression of a type, and evidence that they had left the perhaps overly-simplistic formula of their debut behind for something bigger and better. But while there are certainly a few signs of the band making tentative forward steps, the vast majority of the duo's sophomore record represents a band working within it’s comfort zone, and unsure – or maybe even afraid – to step out of it. The simple yet effective riffs are still there, as are the pummeling drums and the infectious boy-girl vocal routine, but there are too many times on this record when you find yourself crying out for something more, something
different.
Nevertheless, it’s still hard to dispute that what they do they do very well, and that ruling is backed up by the majority of the material here. Opener 'Don’t Ask' more or less sums up what the duo are all about, with a direct and energetic melody backed up by the pair's duel vocals to tremendous effect. You’ll find the exact same vitality on 'Heartsink,' another storming number which recalls the swagger of their debut, but bar those two impressive moments they never really threaten to repeat the same excitement as they created two years prior. Indeed some of the songs here such as 'Follow The Lines' and 'One More Empty Chair' feel like tired interpretations of a tried and tested formula which needs some inspiration in order to freshen things up.
Thankfully, though, the duo weren’t totally contempt with sitting on their existing sound, and did wisely choose to throw in a couple of curveballs which transform 'Fire Like This' from a so-so follow up to a worthy and thoroughly enjoyable listen. Neither of them are by any means startlingly original pieces of genius, but they do nevertheless represent the most ambitious compositions they have yet committed to tape, and by no coincidence are the highlights of this record and among the best moments of their short career so far. The first of these, lead single 'Light It Up' is without a doubt the most melodic and catchy song they have yet come out with, and although it frankly stinks of Nirvana (specifically 'Lithium'), the sheer ecstasy and uplifting nature of it’s chorus is enough to see them get away with it. The influences are similar on closer 'Colours Fade,' which sees them experimenting somewhat with textures not previously embarked on. It represents a total change of tempo from the rest of the record, but is still a fantastic way to end, and will hopefully give them enough confidence to continue with such methods in the future.
Whether or not they choose to continue in line with these moments is another matter altogether, but album number three will surely represent the point where we will learn what to expect from Blood Red Shoes. Will they stick to what they know and has gained them a dedicated underground following, or will they be a little more brave, and throw themselves into the deep end with more ambition and signs of creativity? It’s their choice, and until we have an answer, it will be difficult to determine whether this record truly does represent an important progression for the duo. For now, though, 'Fire Like This' can be enjoyed for what it is – an unremarkable yet still very enjoyable full length from a band who’s future you feel hangs very much with what they choose to do next.
