Badwill Ambassadors - Antiseen

Advantages: More of those unmistakable great numbers.
Disadvantages: my dad described the album as "depressing!!" but what does he know?

...Neil Hannon told me on stage at Liverpool that the band wanted to get back to their old style and had got carried away during recent albums. Thus "regeneration" was born. Having got all their other albums, and having heard "casanova" and "fin de siecle" this is really quite placid and gentle in comparison. But that essential captivating quality is still there from the group who always seem to get it right no matter what they turn their hand too. Indie fans will love this album and die hard fans such as myself will equally enjoy it. Don't expect full orchestral or heavy bass incidental music here, just the basics with some excellent guitar tunes. the best tracks are in my opinion "Bad ambassador", "perfect lovesong", "love what you do" and my favourite, "mastermind". The title track, "regeneration" is also a catchy and memorable song... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: strong lyrics and vocals with a string laden, anthemic sing-a-long chorus
Disadvantages: more of the same if you didnt enjoy "the man who"

...Travis return with the first cut from new album "the invisible band" on may 28th with this mid-tempo grower. a clunky, fractured bass-line and strings accompany fran's enduring voice, telling us to "sing, sing sing sing, for the joy you bring!". if you thought "the man who" was excellent, then this track is the same brand of mellow indie which have spawned so many copy-cat bands since (coldplay and starsailor to name a couple). Yet travis seem to retain some of their humour, as always, at the same time, as the video testifies! *imagine the ambassadors reception with a massive food fight breaking out!* Overall, an impressive comeback which will surely follow the top 5 success of "coming around" last summer.... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: Different for existing fans, appealing for newcomers
Disadvantages: perhaps requires listening to in two sittings as a bit samey

...'s words for the album: 'I wanna chill. I wanna sit real still. I wanna sleep like the dead on a bed of roses. Me and my lovely wife, we're in the prime of life, honey' (Bad Ambassador) The words are as different as always, but delivered in a slightly less ironic fashion. At first I thought this would take a big chunk out of the charm of The Divine Comedy, but in fact it does give them a new lease of life and makes the songs intensely moving in places. The album reminds me of the Cardigans' 'Gran Turismo'. They had a reputation for using different instruments and having a slightly different sound than the average guitar based indie combo, then they refined their sound, making it more guitary and minor-keyed ('the Gran Turismo') and suddenly everyone started paying attention. I think it's good that bands can change their sound slightly... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful