Brighton quartet British Sea Power have been one of the most intriguing acts on the British indie scene over the past few years, releasing a couple of albums that have earned them critical praise and a loyal cult following, if not mainstream success. Do You Like Rock Music? is their best offering yet, a powerful collection of passionate, anthemic rockers that will no doubt please their hardcore following whilst winning new converts to the cause.
Kudos are duo to the production team of Graham Sutton, Efrim Menuck and Howard Bilerman, who have given the record a really quite remarkable level of sonic dynamism. Certainly, all three come with impeccable credentials: Sutton was a key player in the brilliant, pioneering post-rock outfit Bark Psychosis (and produced Jarvis Cocker’s superb debut solo album); Menuck contributed guitar to the apocalyptic soundscapes of Godspeed You! Black Emperor; and Bilerman is an ex-member of the Arcade Fire.
Indeed, the album is actually highly reminiscent of Win Butler and co, featuring as it does a series of soaring, epic tunes that make effective use of organ, choral vocals and celestial strings. The group also take care to balance the high-octane rock action with moments of quiet contemplation and the tender ‘No Need To Cry’, in particular, is beautifully atmospheric.
In the final analysis, Do You Like Rock Music? probably lacks a song or two to really – as Nigel Tufnell would put it – give it that extra push over the edge, but it’s still a hugely impressive achievement.