The Long Blondes - "Couples" (Rough Trade) Released 07/04/08

Why? Well, firstly, what’s new here for The Long Blondes isn’t exactly groundbreaking for the rest of us. Their decision to turn to Alkan, whose own move from superstar DJ to producer has been bolstered thanks to much acclaimed remixes for Daft Punk and Klaxons, could be seen as slightly desperate; a last ditch effort to latch onto the coattails of indie’s current relationship with electro. Secondly, and more poignantly, The Long Blondes just don’t seem capable of playing along.

As reviews for early second album shows have suggested, this is a band that appear both disenchanted and confused by their own music. ‘Guilt’, for example, fails in an attempt to recreate the timeless groove of Blondie’s ‘Rapture’ and ‘Too Clever By Half’ sees either Alkan or The Long Blondes – not that it matters – try to be just a bit too clever for their own good. Stripped down to a reverberating bass line and droll drumbeat it sounds audibly short changed. Even the usually consistent vocals of Jackson seem tense and forced.   

It’s not all doom and gloom, however. Except for ‘Nostalgia’ – which also includes that ill-fated “shock of the new” proclamation – the album ends on a positive note: The Long Blondes returning to the rampant chaos of their debut so often causes them to trip over themselves during live shows. ‘Erin O’Connor’ is joyously thumping, jumping from 4/4 to break-beat in an instant, while ‘I’m Going To Hell’ sees Jackson sing: “I’m going to hell so I may as well make it worth my while/ I’m going to hell so I may as well enjoy myself and go down with a smile,” over another pounding piece of music. “Would you forgive me now?” she asks as the song and album comes to an end.

And that’s a question you can’t help but ask of The Long Blondes. For a band that constructed themselves almost exclusively out of antique parts, the sudden decision to completely turn their back on their past might be one they’ll come to regret.