Album Review: CYMBALS - The Age Of Fracture

CYMBALS
The Age Of Fracture
Rating: Yeah Daddy Make Me Want It

British four piece CYMBALS released their debut record Unlearn in 2011, a collection of early Talking Heads-influenced art-pop, leaning more on angular guitars and stuttering rhythms. For their sophomore record, the band has slightly changed up their sound, pushing the guitars to the background and the synthesizers to the forefront, making for a more dance leaning album. The title of the record refers to a book written by Daniel T. Rodgers, who posited that after World War II, society underwent a change of purpose, from one of closely knit society to one of individualism, where categories of social reality have been fractured and destabilized. These 11 tracks speak to that hypothesis, ruminating on alienation in a modern world. Where previously the band gave off its energy in short, powerful bursts, here the band opens things up, letting the music hit more elegant grooves. Drawing influence from early New Order and The Cure, with glimpses of Depeche Mode, The Chameleons, and other 80s new wave and post-pink stalwarts, The Age of Fracture sounds like a record from that time but never sounds dated, given a more modern sheen.

The album starts out with the dreamy "Winter '98," with haunting washes of synths over brittle guitars as the drums kick into a lockstep groove.



Bouncy synths enliven first single "A Natural World," which erupts into a killer chorus.



The rest of the record hits many high points, especially where they draw from the past, but update it from today's perspective. From the lilting and funky leanings of "Empty Space;"



epic 9 minute track "Like An Animal" which carries itself along an insistent groove, with icy synths pushing up against atmospheric guitars;



to the driving, New Order-esque "Erosion."



The only time the record falters is when tracks settle into too much groove with not enough melody or contrast to make the tracks move forward. "You Are," while pleasant, floats along with little purpose or resolve. "The 5%" is jaunty 80s new wave pop, however, its technicolor sheen is more distracting than enveloping. And "The City" is a meandering, guitar-led track that suffers from a monochrome vocal from lead singer Jack Cleverly.

But these tracks, while not standouts, don't detract much from the majority of the record which maintains a consistently bright tone. The Age of Fracture is a solid collection of tracks, showing the band knows how to take from each record and move their sound to new areas without completely forsaking where they started. It is a fresh take on what could have been a rote exercise in 90s music navel-gazing. Instead, it is an often beguiling set of tracks that adapts its influences into something fresh and exciting.

Rating Scale:

Chilfos: masterpiece; coolest thing I've heard in ages.

Woof Daddy: excellent; just a hair away from being a masterpiece.

Grrrr: very good; will definitely be considered for my top releases of the year.

Yeah Daddy Make Me Want It: good; definitely invites further listens and piques one's interest for more material.

Meh: not horrible, but certainly not great; could have either been polished, trimmed, or re-thought.

Jeez Lady: what the hell happened? Just plain bad. They should hang their heads in shame and be forced to listen to Lady Gaga ad nauseam as penance.

Tragicistani: so bad, armed villagers with pitchforks and torches should run the artist out of the country for inflicting this abomination on the human race.