Highlife

This Club have alread caught the public’s eye and ear with the marvellously hooky treat ‘I Won’t Worry’, a track that has been popping up in ads and scored a Choice nomination as best song. The big question is: can the band formerly known as Hoarsebox capitalise on their latest incarnation’s addictive, sugar-rush start?
Expectations are high for Highlife, and things get off on the right track. ‘Help Me’ rides an electro pulse impressively, ‘This Club’ is full of zest, and ‘Add It Up’ earns its place on radio playlists. By track four – the hit ‘I Won’t Worry’ – things are looking good. But fatigue sets in. I am all for Irish bands that are unafraid of embracing pop, but too often here the programmed drums and synths sound a touch plastic and lightweight. The lyrics are also lacking in depth. And, to these ears, too many of the choruses amount to the title being chanted over and over: granted it’s a good trick, but one that quickly loses its appeal if you overdo it.
This Club have huge potetial. The quality is clearly there on the likes of ‘My Desire’ and ‘I Won’t Worry’. They are supremely confident. They have an ability to locate pop’s sweet spot. They make excellent singles – and they deploy lush backing vocals expertly. But an album presents a different sort of challenge, demanding a greater variety and sense of dynamics than are in evidence here. But, hey, if they can notch up a few No.1 singles, who’ll be worrying?