Lights! Amps! Action! Right from the first reel, this is one of the most thrillingly self-assured Irish debuts since, well, The Thrills’. Despite being fellow Dubs, though, Director are coming from a very different place. Somewhat perversely, this Malahide quartet chose to record We Thrive On Big Cities in the countryside – in Westmeath’s Grouse Lodge Studios, to be precise, under the subtle stewardship of that studio’s relatively untested house engineer, Stefano Sofia, who shares production credits with the band. A good move. The production is sharp and unfussy and they steer well clear of FM bombast while successfully making an eminently radio-friendly noise.
Anybody who heard their recent live Lily Allen cover on the already knows that these guys have real talent. But it isn’t just that they are fine musicians – they have refined their skills as an ensemble, giving the tracks a real sense of internal dynamics. Their infectious Top 10 hit ‘Reconnect’ you probably already know, but the good news is that it’s not Thrive’s best track: the ska-ish second single ‘Come With A Friend’ is equally catchy. But, in fact, one of the revelations here is that Director have made a great album. We Thrive On Big Cities plays most perfectly as a whole. The 10 songs total less than 37 minutes of playing time, but not a second is wasted. This album is as tight as it is potent.
From the memorable opener ‘Easy To Me’ right through to the beautifully melodic finale, ‘Never Know’, Director are powerfully on song. The music hints at various influences but they never dominate. There are touches of Talking Heads, Television and the mellower side of The Pixies along the way. And from an Irish perspective, there are twin guitar moments that suggest a fine appreciation of the Lizzy aesthetic. It helps that, out front, Moloney has a wonderfully refined, distinctive voice. Perhaps it’s his elocutionary singing style, but he appears to have pulled off what Neil Hannon was attempting to do with Regeneration: an album of near perfect pop with a rocky edge.
Director have the potential to achieve great things. Cut! Print!