How does it compare to the artist's other releases
Good
Value for Money
Excellent
Advantages:
The Music, The Band . The Design
Disadvantages:
takes some time
Recommend to potential buyers:
yes
Full review
With 5 stars you'd expect the writer to like the music and the CD. Of course I like the "Black EP" and with all of my heart I'd advice to buy it but this CD hasn't made it easy for me, what exactly do I mean with saying that?…
Somewhere in a excellent and very odd story written by my internet friend from Hawaii I remember reading their name and went downloading something by them. I loved "Obstacle 1" at once and was amazed because it simply sounded different, though I wouldn't be able to explain what was different. With the promise to buy their album "Turn On The Bright Lights" as soon as possible I got a ticket for their concert in October 2004 (which sadly I could not attend to, I didn't feel all too well this day - now the ticket's on my wall back in Berlin). By accident I saw this CD a few weeks before the gig, one look was enough - the song I was fallen for was on there - and it was bought. I'm not sure but I think it was six or seven Euros, about five Pounds.
At home I put the CD in my player and didn't really know what to think of it. Simple, repetitive guitar riffs and - so it seemed to me - not fitting vocal parts were thrown in my face. I was disappointed, it didn't grab me. I skipped to song no 3 and was happy as I heard the familiar lines "I wish I could eat the salt off of your lost faded lips". The next morning in school lying with my head on the table, eyes closed (in the break!) I found the other songs already more interesting. Even though something still irritated me or did the vocals simply bore me?
The next weeks I "tried" it again and again, tried to find out what exactly irritated me, why my father judged it as "not spectacular" and why there still was something that fascinated me. So I kept playing the music in the background and slowly got used to it. Why my friend thought of them as one of her favourite bands of all I still didn't see. Even one day before the gig I wasn't really thrilled, besides "Obstacle 1" which grew on me even more. When I was lying in my bed feeling sick I just hope they wouldn't play it (which they did naturally).
Tired, freezing and angry about life in general I put myself into bed at my first day of the Londontrip (to the Social Forum). I didn't want to see or hear anyone: close eyes, music on play.
"I want your silent parts The parts the birds love I know there's such a place"
A running bass, instruments that at the best moments sound like the Strokes, in the not so good moments sound simply repetitive. As soon as you managed to capture the instruments as a whole, as a background - not easy to accomplish because the they're easier get through than the voice - you will fall for it. Hectic yet groovy the songs walks the line between a song to dance to and a depressing moody one. The vocals are far from sounding cheery. "Say Hello To The Angels": Powerful and yet so depressing.
"I had my back turned You didn't realise I'm lonely"
Like all of Interpol's songs it's about love in any way possible. Love, lust, trust, sex, disappointment any other emotions there are. "Say Hello To The Angels" is not a love song in the original sense, not at all.
"When I'm feeling lazy it's probably because I'm saving all my energy to pick up when you move into my airspace".
When you will take a look at the lyrics line by line they sometimes seem very inartifical. "You're hair is so pretty and red. Baby, baby you're really the best..." ? It's strange but with this voice you will just have to believe him he just means it like that. . "Say hello, say hello, to the angels." It's enough. That will finish me. Yet I want to listen to it right again.
"I had seven faces thought I knew which one to wear I'm sick of spending these lonely nights training myself not to care the subway is a porno, pavements they are a mess I know you've supported me for a long time somehow I'm not impressed"
The lyrics to "NYC" are very good. That is a way to describe living in your city you rarely get to hear. Music-wise the song is not really comparable with the rest of Interpol's songs. The guitar creeps it's way through while the bass and the song drag along. With it's depressing magic for a lot of fans this is their best song, not only on this EP. Yet for me this song won't work every time. Maybe I'm too impatient, maybe I'm just no big fan of this song. This is a demo version but it doesn't sound a lot different to the album version.
I won't go on about the - in my eyes - weakest song on this CD but try to explain the music's charm.
Back in London, in bed, my soaked clothes stick to my skin, finally it starts. The song. "Obstacle 1" Am I freezing less now? Is the say better now? With clothed eyes I con totally concentrate on the fusion of the incredible different bass, the simple but yet so effective guitar, the less outstanding but perfect drums and this voice sounding so unconcerned, creating something so touching and moving. Life doesn't get better, but acceptable. "And we can find new ways of living" - Sometimes I believe in it and sometimes it just won't work.
Again the calming that won't let go. "You make me lose my buttons, yeah you make me spit, I don't like my clothes anymore." Impulsive and almost repetitive: 'Specialist' starts . An average Interpol-song with touching vocals? -"now we're spending time and money yeah you're colder than yourself"- and lyrics that can be interpreted as a love song but has some clear-cut parts: "My love's a laboratory I set all my pets free so baby you should sleep with me" Sung with such naivety and earnestness. In the middle of the song it starts becoming even better. The instruments start playing with a new-earned congeniality and the singing is catchy. Once heard the line "I love the way you put me in the big house" won't leave your head all too soon.
This song is like all the others on this CD (except for the NYC demo) live-recorded. They're part of a set played as the "Black Sessions". The quality is very good, the applause could almost be added in the studio, it's that fitting. "Specialist" is the only song on here that hasn't already been in another version on the album. For people who are unsure whether to purchase or not this song should make you decide.
"The clock is set for nine But you know you're gonna make it eight"
,Leif Erikson' is another highlight. Those who like the album version will love this. It's even more intense and full of energy. The typical "dark and moody" bass, the dull guitar and the feeling, the way that Paul Banks almost retells a poem rather than just singing a song. Although some parts are hard to understand, lyric-wise as well.
" It's like learning a new language Helps me catch up on my mind"
The CD ends with one of these songs that took ages to convince me but where I'm grateful for their existence now.
In the night in London I realised for the first time that "PDA" was more than just some guitars randomly playing with overdone coolly sung parts. I waited for this particular part, just this one perfect "sleep tight, grim right, we have two hundred couches where you can sleep tonight". Nothing became better but nothing matter more than just getting to hear it, it seemed. It probably took me dozens of times until I heard the grand backround vocals sung by Interpol's guitarist Daniel Kessler. A song that has rooted itself inside of me but is still able to amaze me.
Even when I define parts of Interpol's music as being similar to other musicians' and one can put The Black EP into a category. I was no fan of New Wave when I first got into Interpol and 80's music was the worst thought of all (that's changed. Thanks.) I just like Interpol's music as music not as what. If I read somewhere that they're "rock" then maybe that is true, but at the same time they're much more.
I push the "stop" button, put the CD-player next to my bed and I can go to sleep calmed. Yes, the world is an evil and horrid place but mad, how fortuned I am to feel so good right now, I think. I yawn and I'm content. Wet but satisfied.
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