It`s fair to say that there has been quite a buzz about and around post punk Dublin quintet The Murder Capitol and at times, as Public Enemy maintain, it`s a bit “don`t believe the hype” but having listened to their debut release `When I Have Fears` the hype if any, is justified. The suicide of a close friend led not only to the birth of the band’s name but to the philosophy of the entire record, “every single one of those lyrics relates back in some way to his death” the band have stated.
The album opens with `For Everything` and with the competing twin guitars of Damien Tuit and Cathal Roper, Gabriel Paschal Blake throbbing bass and Diarmuid Brennan`s sublime drumming I half expected Bauhaus`s `In The Flat Field` it was nearly two minutes before James McGovern`s vocals cut in and his voice and delivery has a style of its own, one that I haven`t heard since Cathal Coughlan of the legendary Microdisney and Fatima Mansions. The track is a wonderful mix, beginning quite aggressively but progressing to a sweet beauty with lyrics “Not at all, Not for everything, it’s not for everything at all, not for everyone, it’s not for anyone at all“ offered with such tenderness. A stunning opener. `More Or Less` is a short belligerent offering with lyrics that seem to be about an antagonistic relationship. The fierce music a perfect backdrop to the delivery of the words. I felt `Green And Blue` was very reminiscent of what Gang Of Four thrived on. The guitars, bass and driving drumming laid a superb foundation for James`s heartfelt words. `Slowdance I` and `Slowdance II` bleed into each other with the former having minimal lyrics remotely come abstractly sung over a hypnotic musical backdrop. The latter instrumental closing with a wonderful cello segment.
`On Twisted Ground` is a track written immediately after the band discovered the work of photographer Francesca Woodman who took her own life at twenty-two years old. A song that was written in the aftermath of their friend having taken their own life. It`s quite a simple but compelling piece with just a strummed bass guitar and James`s poignantly touching narrative delivery.
`Feeling Fades` and `Don’t Cling to Life` I felt had a real spirit of the work of Joy Division. `Feeling Fades` is a thumping fast paced assault and `Don’t Cling to Life` which was written after a band-member’s mother’s death during recording, considers life’s sweetness and briefness with pronouncements as “There’s nothing on the other side”.
The penultimate track `How The Streets Adore Me Now` is an unerring offering with an austere strummed piano accompanying a deep vocal conveying a seemingly desolate outlook. Nevertheless, it`s quite a compelling piece. The final song `Love Love Love` starts with a drumbeat, tapped cymbals, bass line, guitar riffs and then James`s aching vocals which started off like a poem that Jim Morrison would have intoned. The song builds to a musical cacophony with the oral chants always there slightly threatening, slightly disturbing.
Wonderfully disconcerting.
This was a this was a real atmospheric offering from a young band that seem to have a maturity beyond their years. The music has a variety of styles from the numerous influences upon the band. The lyrics come out of personal experiences of sudden bereavement and it`s impact and this album hopefully is cathartic in coming to terms with that situation. It`s hard to believe that this is the bands debut album as it is stunning, I can`t wait to find out how this terrific outfit progress.
Rating 9.5/10
