Review Summary: If The Cast Of Cheers is a one trick pony, it's one hell of a trick
This is not widely known, but before The Cast Of Cheers was the perennial support band for global phenomenon
Two Door Cinema Club it was the perennial support band for virtually unknown indie boppers
Two Door Cinema Club. Why it is that these chaps always played second fiddle to their Northern Irish inferiors puzzles me to this day, but sadly the math pop torchbearers weren’t destined to “light our way to the end of the map” (from Side A closer, Derp).
Although their official debut, 2012’s Family, showcased a group with talent to spare and a unique spin the hipster hor d’oeuvres usually dished out by the likes of
Vampire Weekend, the last two years have seen few signs of activity emanating from the Cast camp. This isn’t exactly surprising, considering lead singer Conor Adam’s exciting side project with ex-
Adebisi Shank (RIP) axeman Lar Kaye, All Tvvins, has recently grown legs and at least two other members are new fathers. But The Cast Of Cheers’ frenetic zenith remains unshaken: their original warning shot,
Chariot.
Even the cover art exudes lunacy, and the ten tracks of this self-released album coalesce to form a dizzying fever dream of profound gibberish (“I will give the light to you, but you have to promise me…”) and cascading looped guitars, layered on top of each other and sped up with gleeful abandon. Adams makes no effort to mask his Kildare accent when he sings, making every gravelly burst of nonsense that comes out of his mouth all the more captivating. A remarkably tight rhythm section, featuring Kevin Curren and John Higgins on drums and bass, respectively, keeps the whole volatile machine from falling apart. It's more remarkable still when you’ve seen them do it all live.
Highlights are so numerous it almost seems redundant to pick favourites, but I Am Lion and Glitter represent the band’s more anthemic qualities while Strangers is a musical hearse, speeding from sombre eulogy to post-burial disco in under two minutes. Of course, a record so tightly packed and wedded to its vision is bound to divide opinion. Those who have no time for bands like
Foals and
Battles are unlikely to find much to love here. But if that's your thing,
this is your thing.
Five years on,
Chariot is as fresh and exhilarating as ever. Two Door may be great for a sing-along chorus, but The Cast Of Cheers will have you dancing one minute and questioning your sanity the next. I know which I prefer.
