The Maccabees - Given to the Wild

Released - 6 January 2012

Polydor Ltd (UK)

Album Listing

1. Given to the Wild (Intro)

2. Child

3. Feel to Follow

4. Ayla

5. Glimmer

6. Forever I`ve Known

7. Heave

8. Pelican

9. Went Away

10. Go

11. Unknow

12. Slowly One

13. Grew Up At Midnight

The Maccabees

Review

Not being a fan of this band prior to this release, made me approach this release with some trepidation. I was looking for a good, new release of 2012 to start my Blog-reviewing, when I came across some positive reaction toward the new Maccabees record. Really ? The same band who used to sound as if they were a workman-like Futureheads or less experimental Bloc Party ? Yes. That band.

Well, I can honestly say, you can put any worries and fears to one side, and enjoy a beautifully restrained, thoughtful record. The Maccabees have grown up.

By incorporating more electronica and layered elements into their music, without losing their identity, shadows of My Morning Jacket and Arcade Fire loom gently over most of the tracks. Take "Child" which segues beautifully from the instrumental opener and title track. Singer, Orlando Weeks sounds eerily like Jim James (My Morning Jacket), before washes of gently guitar, layered vocals and horns move over a steady yet propelling rhythm. "Feel to Follow" opens in similar vein before the chorus kicks in, the guitar`s arpeggio lift it into the Radiohead universe and turns it into a more emotional tune. Oh and it is HUGE. 

That is a beautiful thing about this record. It feels big in scope and ambition, yet personal and rooted. It is brilliantly structured as songs run into each other with shimmering piano ("Ayla"), rolling drums and dreamy guitars ("Glimmer"), punchy, Futureheads-esque melodrama ("Pelican") or solo 808-style keyboards and Week`s heavily reverbed vocal ("Went Away").

This is the sound of a band, finding it`s sound. It is an exciting, energetic, delicate and heady listening experience. My advice ? Sit back, get comfortable and enjoy the first great record of 2012.

DOWNLOAD - Feel to Follow, Glimmer, Went Away

RATING - 8 (out of 10)