Pretty much since the arrival of the Internet, record buyer faith has been put firmly in the hands of independent labels. Labels like American based Run For Cover and London based Xtra Mile Recordings are fine examples and we’ve learned to trust that the acts they’re putting out will be fantastic. Algiers debut album, ‘You’re The Captain’, comes with a responsibility to uphold the Xtra Mile family name here, with many first time listeners just getting on board at this point.
Algiers are a Sheffield based duo formed from two respective northern bands, Dartz and The Maple State. After parting ways with their former peers and ‘threatening’ to jam together, they eventually decided to form Algiers. In case you’re not familiar with either of those – this bodes pretty well.
The record begins with the first single, ‘Mother’, and whilst not being entirely original with their opening salvo, it does serve to introduce the listener to the honest charm that will later capture your heart and in that way it certainly succeeds. The first line of ‘Miles and Miles Of Rosary Beads’, the second track, is what will really grab your attention though – by the time it passes through the space in between your ears, it will have you hooked. The rising moments to the chorus that build anticipation are moments of songwriting craft that few others manage to achieve. There’s just something undeniable about their particular pop infused indie sound that just ticks all the boxes around this point in this record.
It’s not all twinkly, so sweet it makes you sick pop though. ‘You’re The Captain’ boasts some seriously strong instrumentals that are almost early Biffy esque and also high calibre oddball pop/rock that has been absent since Tubelord left us. The record draws to a close on ‘To The Beat Of A Marching Drum’ parts 1 & 2, and whilst part one doesn’t really serve up anything fresh, part two is an epic finale complete with a mouth watering guitar riff and a vocal line that concretes the record’s longevity.
It’s hard to pick one particular element from ‘You’re The Captain’ that really stands out as Algiers’ own, and though that’s a backhanded compliment if ever there was one, the really mark themselves out by being difficult to put in a box. The band band don’t need to over-complicate things or hide behind anything. The music is laid bare for the listener and you can take from it what you want. It’s honest and raw and bloody brilliant for it.
SHAUN COLE