Kick Up The Fire And Let The Flames Break Loose - Cooper Temple Clause

...has passed the drums really kick it in and take the song to a heavier sound, while the guitars also change key. The vocals sound brilliant and really make this a good way to round off the CD.

The CD can also comes with a DVD, which contains footage of the bands videos from the first album and also the making of the video for “Promises Promises”. The CD will set you back about £10 from Tesco and this does include the bonus DVD. So a ... more

On the 11th February 2002 a new band released their debut album on an unsuspecting audience, that album was See This Through And Leave and now a year and a half after that debut the Coopers have released what in my opinion is one of the best albums in my collection. The boys from Winnersh have moved on from STTAL, which looked like it would be hard but somehow Ben and the boys have made a superb album.

Of course it’s not an album that jumps up and grabs you straight away, it took me about a week before I actually really liked each track. It takes a while but as you listen to it you will get a few favourites then all of a sudden another will jump out and grab your attention. However one thing they have managed is an album of 10 solid tracks that will get anyone who is a fan of the band rushing to see them and encourage a lot of new fans to buy the album and enjoy.

Tom Bellamy: Guitar, Synths, Keys, Samples, Vocals, Percussion, Melodica, Trumpet, Lyrics
Daniel Fisher: Guitar, Lyrics, Vox, Bass
Ben Gautrey: Vocals, Guitar
Jon Harper: Drums, Percussion
Didz Hammond: Bass, Samples, Vocals, Synths
Kieran Mayhem: Keyboards

It kicks off with the truly sublime "The Same Mistakes". It opens with a Keyboard sample, before the drums and guitars come in playing a pretty simple tune lead mainly by the bass. The tune gradually changes before Ben comes in on lead vocals and lead by the guitar slowly and quietly drifts along in a very chilled out way. The drums build in places and really add a bit of atmosphere to Ben’s voice, which sounds a lot better than on the first album, which I didn’t think possible. The pace picks up towards the end of the song with the drums taking over the lead role but Ben’s vocals still sounding brilliant.

The second track is the first proper single taken from the album, I’ll explain what I mean by proper later on, but it’s "Promises Promises". Very little radio play probably means you won’t have heard this but it is worth getting hold of a copy to listen to. It has a fairly simple guitar lead beat that carries on throughout the song, really being made up of six different segments, making it easier to listen to. A lot heavier than the first track, makes for a good start to the album, with Ben’s voice again sounding good, but also featuring Didz in places, but it’s hard to tell which is which, but the vocals really are the stand out feature of the track, which is relatively short for a Cooper Temple Clause track.

Quickly it’s onto the third track and one of the favourites of mine "New Toys". Although this doesn’t have that much vocal in it, what there is really makes an impact. It has a slow mellow start slowly building with the keyboard up with the drums in the background before Ben comes in with the opening verse. It's a fairly slow start but you can hear it slowly build, led by the guitars and the chorus is a lot heavier than the opening verse, with a few samples mixed in really adding a new dimension to the Coopers album. The lyrics are well written as with all the tracks on here, making you think enough about them to enjoy them but easily enough to blank out any thought.

"We came we played we drifted away,
We came we played but it got away oh no"

The pace is slowed right down with the next track, "Talking To A Brick Wall". Opening with a slow keyboard sample before a sort of drum machine comes in then the guitars start up, before the entrance of fairly quietly spoken vocals. However it is these vocals that really make you take notice of this track. The verse really kicks off though with the guitars and drums taking it loud when the vocals stop for a second and really adding a good edge to the track, before returning to the slower, quieter vocals and backing. The guitar really suits this track, not used in a big way but where it is used just makes for a superb song, as it really is made to lead through the heavier sections.

Following on from Brick Wall is "Into My Arms". Another slower start, with the guitar and keyboards leading in. The start is a lot mellower than the last one with slow, echolike notes from the keyboard. The vocals as well come in slowly and build slowly. This time it's not Ben on lead vocals and sounds like it could be Didz but I'm not entirely sure, although there could be a bit from both of them there. The lyrics are well written and the song really isn't overly loaded with lyrics but just right, and a pace that just lets it drift on.

"So we can hold and share what we had before,
Everything is the same only you're not around"

The pace picks up a bit more with "Blind Pilots". The vocals bring it in before the drums join in as the pace of the album really gets a bit quicker than the lull in the middle, which really works well for this track following on from it. The guitars again are arranged in a pretty simple way but it works very well. The vocals are again awesome and Ben really does have a strong voice, which carries on well no matter the pace, or style of track. Along with the guitars, the drums really stand out and although as well keep a pretty straightforward beat, which compliments the guitars and vocals well.

This is the other single I was talking about but "A.I.M." was special release single, only available to fans last year who bought NME and sent a text to a certain number and they sent out the single. Designed as a tester for the new album it really did work in giving an idea of the overall sound. A lot heavier start repeating a sample over to begin with before the drums come in followed by the vocals. Again the vocals have a slow start but pick up towards the chorus where the track really lifts off. The drums and guitars really take the forefront for the chorus with some superb vocals in the background. The samples add to the track, although may make it less enjoyable for some people.

"ALL I've said and things I've done,
Hate I drew into your eyes"

Next up is probably my joint favourite track on the album, and "Music Box has the cutting edge that was sort of missing from the last album, although it more than made up for it in other ways. It has a long sample filled intro on the keyboard and drums, which takes almost a minute to lead in. When the vocals come in it carries on at a slow pace like through the intro. The vocals are amazing, slow quite to start but filled with feeling and passion they work well both in the slower sections of the track but also when it really gets going. The song is probably one of the best I have heard in years only just surpassed by New Toys, which is a first for an album and really surprised me.

"This Is My Music Box,
And this is my home,
Come in take a look if you like"

The heavier section plays a lot more on the guitars but somehow Ben manages to keep his voice consistent throughout. It almost sounds like a Muse track with all the polished edges taken away and the rougher style left for all to see.

And now all of a sudden it is down to the last two tracks and the first of those is "In Your Prime". This is where the album starts to chill out as the keyboard and guitars start us off before the vocals come in with an eerie, echolike effect. It's a very slow relaxing track that drifts along nicely, mainly lead by the vocals. The music really takes a back seat here with the vocals really taking the fore. The guitars sound pretty good, if maybe for the only criticism so far they are very much underused on this one.

Finally onto the last track on the album and "Written Apology". Another slower start straight out of track 9. The guitar opens it on it's own, building slowly up from the start accompanied by the keyboard. Eventually the vocals come in slowly and help the song along a little, building up slowly with the guitar, changing pace and direction getting a little quicker as it gets further into the track. The drums in places sound brilliant really bringing the beat to life, while after quite a lot of the track has passed the drums really kick it in and take the song to a heavier sound, while the guitars also change key. The vocals sound brilliant and really make this a good way to round off the CD.

The CD can also comes with a DVD, which contains footage of the bands videos from the first album and also the making of the video for “Promises Promises”. The CD will set you back about £10 from Tesco and this does include the bonus DVD. So a candidate for album of the year, I certainly think so, but if you buy it or have heard I’d love to hear what you think.
 

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