Mongrel: Better Than Heavy
Supergroup Mongrel are Better Than Heavy on their debut
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Thursday, 05, Mar 2009 09:03
Wall Of Sound, out now.
In a nutshell...
Unusual mix of pure brilliance
What's it all about?
Politically-driven Better Than Heavy is the debut album from new supergroup Mongrel.
Influenced by rap, dub and hip-hop, the sharp, challenging lyrics influenced by government decisions are anything but mainstream.
Who's it by?
Mongrel are the indie supergroup formed in 2008. The old bunch begins with Reverend And the Makers' frontman John McClure joining forces with fellow bandmate Joe Moskow on synths, Arctic Monkeys drummer Matt Helders, ex-Monkeys bassist Andy Nicholson, Babyshambles bassist Drew McConnell on guitar and London rapper Lowkey of Poisonous Poets.
As an example...
"4 5 6 8, 1 9 5 0/You’re a number, you’re a barcode/Got your details, all on file/A commodity, we will quantify." - Barcode
Likelihood of a trip to the Grammys
They stand in good stead, but have a lot of competition that could see them struggling to make it.
What the others say
"Musically, this is a skank of English ska, Gallagher-esque tambourines and drum rhythms that try for an off-beat hip-hop lilt." – The Skinny
"If you love indie or hip hop, or better yet if you love them both, you'll be in for a treat." - RWD
So is it any good?
From the first glance of the album cover, you know that this is going to be far from the cry of the mainstream music out at the moment. Mongrel has created a breath of fresh air that will blow the socks of your granny. The mixed up style and sharp lyrics bring something different to the table. Something that leaves you pondering, while wanting to jump around in a padded room.
Not only is this album fresh and exciting but, they have teamed up with the Independent to give away the album for free. In interviews, front man John McClure says that their album will not bridge the gap between music and social relations, which explains the joining of the two of them. This will be the first time that a UK band have given their debut album away with a national newspaper.
The group embrace a wide spectrum of genres with rap, rock, hip-hop, dub, digital synchronising and even a hint of reggae, and yet this unusual mix is fused together creating a unique and refreshing tone embraced by a strong energy.
The government-challenging lyrics highlight what we are all thinking about recent politics and leave no stone unturned, similar to that of Hard-Fi. Barcode confronts the ID card, something that has split public opinion, and has been sonically meshed together to create what I think is their best track on the album.
The rapping in parts seems a bit strong and with the background of the other band members it would be nice to see their own styles come through in the choice of vocals. But overall this album is a hit and will hopefully lead the way for more non-mainstream music to make the charts.
8/10
Daniel Andrews