For whatever reason some records are simply frustrating. ‘Tales Of The Unexpected’ is exactly that. The second album from Bournemouth’s FOUR 0 (that’s a zero) is by no means one of those ‘this is total ear-pillaging drivel’ type of records reviewers dread, but it just doesn’t really set itself out in a way that you can get to grips with it.
The main issue with the album is that it doesn’t seem that the band has decided what type of music to play. There’s pretty much an even split here between straight-up pop-punk songs, pop-punk songs littered with ska notes, and acoustic songs. As you listen to each it’s all too easy to say “that’s Grown At Home/Advantage style; that’s Mike TV-esque; that’s Gecko-like”. It’s as though the band has decided to play three styles of music rather than taking those influences and allowing for an organic growth into something they can call their own. And that is frustrating.
Still, there are a couple of moments on here that prove Four 0 can get it right, particularly stand-out track ‘Desert Rains’. Principally it’s an acoustic pop number in the vein of Gecko and Dirty Revolution, only it’s laced with a Calypso atmosphere and even has an “Arriba!” thrown in there for good measure. It sounds good, it sounds mostly original and it works. It’s also a really strong use of six minutes (at that length it should plod along but it actually shoots by).
Musicianship-wise the band is tight enough, which lends to further frustration. There’s an obvious talent on display here, it’s just that it’s never really utilised fully. ‘Tales Of The Unexpected’ doesn’t shine a stunning light on Four 0, but in the same breath it doesn’t write the quartet off. With a little more hard work and a clean directional view the band can come back and impress.
ALEX HAMBLETON