 Girl
Nobody
"The Future Isn't What It Used To Be" CD
Self-released
Genres: indie pop, indie rock
Nov 22 - 28 2004 |
The Future Isn't What It Used To Be is great news if you like The
Sneaker Pimps, Morsel, and similar trip-hoppy, female-led
pop bands. Girl Nobody uses a dark, catchy pop formula
that sounds great - dramatic melodies are combined with electronic
rhythms to create a driving, pulsing sound. At times they favour
a strong, guitar-heavy rock feel ("My Best," "Why Am I
Alone"), while on other occasions they are more into sensible pop
("Yellow Morning," "Carlucci"). Sometimes Girl Nobody sounds a bit similar to mid-90s act Moonpools
& Caterpillars - the vocals are very similar, but this album's
darker moments tend to drift away from M&C tendencies.
An important component of Girl Nobody's music is its
electronic element. While many of the songs downplay the electro
rhythms, others are driven by them - "Aliens," for example,
takes a page out of the Morsel handbook on electronic-infused
pop music. "Sirens" and its uniquely haunting
atmosphere sound something like a Portishead/Sneaker Pimps
hybrid, while noir-esque rocker "Paperdoll" is easily
the album's best song - its chorus is abnormally catchy, as just one
listen will hook you for weeks. Few of these songs are duds,
though some are less catchy than others - fortunately, the band's
entertaining, unique style keeps this album from ever becoming boring;
even the less infectious songs are above average.
The Future is a surprising gem of an album. Lots of
music comes my way looking like this, but very little of it sounds so good. If dramatically intriguing, trip-hop-cum-pop appeals
to you, make sure to give Girl Nobody a look.
86%
Fun Fact: Like The Sneaker Pimps
before them, Girl Nobody is becoming a DJ favourite. So far, Delikate Impostor has remixed
"Why Am I Alone" and Paul Oakenfold has included a
version of "Cages" on his Creamfields mix.
Matt Shimmer [Vitals:
12 tracks, distributed by the
band, released 2004] |
