The Black Heart Procession – ‘The Spell’ (Touch & Go) Released 08/05/06

We've always loved the name of this band without having heard them and the package doesn’t disappoint either - thick outlined lurid images in a nice digipack depicting what could possibly be a preacher hypnotising on the front and his flock (naked) in the insert. It seems to straddle a fine balance between darkness and kitsch and this is certainly played out on opener ‘Tangled’. Melancholy piano, violin (slightly weedy, underplayed) and then mournful drums, clicking guitar threatening to irrupt but holding back and gothic church organ. Paul Jenkins howls “drawn into your web/ I’m tangled in your web” and we’re in a 50’s melodrama directed by Tim Burton. The press release pleads widescreen cinema and this is true but with a cartoony element.

But, hereby lies a problem. The kitsch, cartoon thing. Is this intended? It must be and nor should this be a problem BUT it dampens the sincerity of what goes on. The Burton sound backfires sounding like Bad Seeds lite and resembling one of those fucking stupid Nightmare Before Xmas things that everyone and his wife are obsessed with. The whole album just sounds confused, second (and title) track drones on boringly, never taking off and already the vocals just seem dreary rather than dramatic. ‘The Letter’ is infinitely better, dusty (Springfield) 60’s pop rerouted through the bands own sound begins brilliantly with reverb drenched violin but even here, the chorus doesn’t quite reach the heights that it inspires. ‘The Waiter’ sounds like it was recorded on the titanic now, and almost summons the ghosts of Kubrick’s 'The Shining' but is let down by a weak, droney (again) non-song (and for all who want the real Overlook Hotel- check out the work of the magisterial Caretaker on V/VM).

The sound never develops and never changes which shouldn’t be a criticism but it’s just not got enough going for it to excite over the course of a full album. Maybe it’s the production? Coupled with too many weak songs and a sound that clearly strives for ambition but seems trapped at the same time, its impossible for us to tout it as the success that the band so clearly want it to be. And, this is not too clever for a band that are 5 albums in.

Or maybe we’re just being too kind. Maybe live will make a difference and that’s coming at ATP in a few weeks time. We’ll get back to you.