The Autumns - 'Fake Noise From A Box Of Toys' (Bella Union) Released 08/10/07

Like a slightly curious cross between over-eager puppies and world weary musical mavericks, LA five-piece The Autumns bring their sonic vision to the UK shores with an album that bites, shudders, sighs and surprises. ‘Fake Noise From A Box Of Toys’, the band’s fourth studio album and follow-up to 2004’s self-titled record, sadly looks set to follow the precedent set by its predecessors – critically claimed, but publicly ignored. Somewhat irritating we imagine. It’s easy to see why, though, as The Autumns mix people-friendly melodic loveliness with jarring, industrial guitar chops in a manner that doesn’t scream radio airplay.

In fact, the album is downright schizophrenic at times. Luscious harmonies, twinkling keyboards and soaring melodies rub shoulders with distressingly abrasive feedback and unexpectedly harsh chord changes, so just as you’re blissfully drifting off, you’re suddenly jerked back into consciousness and hastily wiping the dribble off your chin. Imagine Elbow with sudden bursts of My Hyde-esque rage. Nevertheless, when it’s good, it’s very very good. Singer Matt Kelly possesses the sort of heartbreaking falsetto that instantly conjures up images of Matt Bellamy and Jeff Buckley’s secret lovechild, and he uses it to glorious effect. He twists and twirls like a dervish duetting to heart-wrenching effect with a female voice on ‘The Beautiful Boot’ as delicate xylophone gives way to epic guitars.

In fact, the high points of the album generally are when emotion triumphs over The Autumns’ penchant for overbearing FX for their axes. ‘The Midnight Knock’ features a chorus curiously akin to an aria by French composer Georges Bizet, with the harmonies clambering all over each other to catch your attention. ‘Night Music’ meanwhile is a strong contender for song of the album and is straight out of the Radiohead/Muse bible to songwriting, with a long, winding melody in the melancholy verse which opens up into a strangely optimistic chorus. Oddly, the record only seems to get into its stride after the first few tracks, which act as something of a distracting Prelude.

So. To sum up the session. The Autumns have developed into something of a Radiohead for the US West Coast. Undoubtedly, there are some very special moments to be found across this album and moments of epic vision to make your insides hum with the intensity, but these at times are forced to shine like little oases of loveliness from the rough ground they find themselves in.