They describe their sound on MySpace as ‘minimalist’, they have no elements of electronic sound in their music and they come from the same State that spawned the Pixies and Aerosmith. They are TIME AND PLACE, a folk punk threesome that have no regard for instruments such as drums and electric guitars, but have decided to instead replace these more conventional ways of making music with ukulele’s and up-right bases. Unsigned and unknown, Time and Place are hoping to change this with debut album ‘Scarlet’, a 12-song barrage of acoustic guitars and shining lyrics.
Opener ‘As The Rain Dies Down’ is the first and more frenzied of the 12-songs with its fleeting guitar strums and robust vocals, whilst following track ‘The Revolution Will Be In Three-Four’ continues on this energetic burst, with contagious enthusiasm that leeches on to the listener like a heart-warming virus. In contrast, we have offerings such as ‘The Truth Is’ and title track ‘Scarlet’, which curb the pace of before and instead adopt a smoother and more intimate setting, stripping down their sound even further and embracing an approach similar to that of fellow folk-monger PJ Bond. Lyrically, ‘Scarlet’ – like all good punk themed records – has an emotive and creative edge. ‘Chords’ best displays this, with its heartfelt plea’s of “I should never have taken a chance on you”, as does ‘….And The Lucid Dreams Of Us’ that shoves a middle finger up to the world, harnessed in words “I’m not anything that could be labelled so easily”.
If a criticism has to be made of ‘Scarlet’ then it shall only be on a minor scale. A slight glitch in the parallel directions of the vocals and music on ‘Slings and Arrows’ does sometimes appear in the track, but this is however the only crack in an otherwise brilliant concoction of sound. Beaming with passion and excitable spirit reminiscent of a new puppy, Time And Place may not have worked out all the kinks just yet, but with ‘Scarlet’ they have succeeded in placing a pretty good blueprint out for themselves and their future.
EMMA QUINLAN