Breaks Co-Op - 'The Sound Inside' (Parlophone) Released 27/03/06

 

Because, before he was a radio gonk, Lowe and cohort Hamish Clark had a big hit in their native New Zealand with their breaks album 'Roofers'.  That was nine years ago – now, they’re back, having learnt a couple of instruments and a few camp fire classics to play on them. 'The Sound Inside' doesn’t sound like the product of nine years’ work – largely because it isn’t, but also because it doesn’t do anything that we haven’t heard before.  Folky strums, looped hip hop beats, conscious lyrics: at it’s best it’s like Deus playing Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young ('The Otherside'), at it’s worst it’s more like Bon Jovi covering George Harrison ('Lay Me Down').  Generally pleasant, but all too often derivative.

 

There are a couple of instrumentals on here that do grab the attention: 'Question Of Freedom' brings the eastern vibes of the last Ian Brown album to a dubby Bees-like jam, and velvety closer 'Twilight' drifts along with the same gentle ebb as 'Walk You Home' from SFA’s most recent effort.  That’s not to lay the blame for the same standard not being met elsewhere at the door of vocalist Lovegrove: 'Last Night' is a good showcase for his soulful tones, and his hushed regret on the shuffling 'Too Easily' adds to the Elbow-meets-Jeff Buckley downbeat charm of the track.

 

'The Sound Inside' is actually far better than anyone who’s cringed while Lowe bashes lovelessly at his guitar in an attempt to make The Killers, Razorlight or whoever laugh on his telly programme could have hoped for.  But it’s a sound that could equally have been left inside: we wouldn’t have missed it.  Don’t jump off the media gravy train just yet Zane.