Noisettes: What's the Time Mr Wolf?
What's the time Mr Wolf? is the band's debut album and follows on from the Three Moods of the Noisettes EP
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Monday, 05, Feb 2007 05:23
Vertigo, February 5th.
In a nutshell.
Energetic, frantic, fun, lively, medley
What's it all about?
Noisettes, particularly their lead singer Shingai Shoniwa, thrive on producing raw energy with every beat that comes out of their instruments. It's a tiring and overwhelming experience to see them perform live on the stage, with Shoniwa dancing to every tremor that the band's amp produces. The plan was for this live appeal to come across on record, and in parts the Noisettes achieve this admirably.
Don't Give Up is a great opener, highlighting Shoniwa's ample talent as a charismatic and entertaining frontwoman. "Sometimes they'll want to cut you down/Better scratch that itch cos the time is now," she rapidly babbles, before the other two band members put together a jumpy bass rhythm.
However, although this record seems to be limited to the Noisettes fun yet uncomplicated sound, the album throws up a few surprises. The Count of Monte Christo is a fantastic pop song with an unassuming guitar and a catchy chorus from Shoniwa, producing the kind of track you wouldn't normally associate with this band. Perhaps the most impressive thing about this album is that it's far darker and more complicated than it first appears, while still retaining its quirky, punchy quality.
Who's it by?
Although it would be tempting - not to mention convenient - to portray the Noisettes as a British version of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, they are somewhat different. Karen O's dark and rueful lyrics are contrasted with Shoniwa's aggressive and less sassy delivery. In terms of energy and composition the two are slightly similar, but the Noisettes stand apart for their hearty expression which manifests itself through every song.
The London trio have been busy in recent months and remain very much in-touch with their rapidly growing fan base. Band members often put down blog entries after gigs to provide an insight into how late Shoniwa was or how they felt the gig went. The Noisettes are certainly a great live band, with Shoniwa communicating her enthusiasm for the music to the crowd through confrontational dancing and scream-aloud lyrics.
What's the time Mr Wolf? is the band's debut album and follows on from the Three Moods of the Noisettes EP and various singles released on the Vertigo label.
As an example.
"Don't be scared no, no/ We ain't prepared no, no/ Dreamt of ventures and/ Woke up to the sound of the trenches you dig in my mind." Nothing to Dread sums up the mood of this album; thrilling, raucous, but rather simplified.
Likelihood of a trip to the Grammys Cult classic rather than chart hit.
What the others say
"Songs on this LP emanate an American edge from the strong rock influence at play. This is in contrast to a particularly English sounding set of vocals - this combination giving The Noisettes an interesting musical taste that gets the toes tapping." - Gigwise
"Definitely one to watch in 2007. But when you're hand-picked by Muse to undertake supporting duties, did anyone expect anything less?" - musicOMH.com
So is it any good?
When the Noisettes toured with Babyshambles last year, Pete Doherty took it upon himself to meander on to the stage during the Noisettes' set. What followed was a furore of crowd adulation and subsequent booing when Pete wandered backstage to leave the Noisettes to finish their set. One MySpace tirade later, and the Noisettes became news for a few days after chastising Doherty for what they saw as a set hijack.
The Noisettes take their music seriously and this comes across strongly on the record; the blog entries and the energy which they pour into their live sets demonstrates how much this band cares about their performance. They can't be disappointed with this record as an end result, which packages their exuberance and character into an 11-track album that's over before you've settled down to listen to it. The contrast between the likes of Mind the Gap and Cannot Even (Break Free) is admirable and does more than simply showing the band's high reaching song range. It highlights their obvious talent and makes What's the Time? a concise and enjoyable album.
When the Noisettes want to raise the roof they can through some heavy feedback and pounding drums, with Shoniwa's unsettling scream rousing every sense in your head. However, where this album falters is through its lack of originality. The Noisettes rarely put a foot wrong, but in a sense this is where the album becomes dull and at times repetitive. They've clearly got their mixed style off to a tea, but this can simply sound like a rehash of any indie-disco drivel. Hierachy, the final track on the album, is a great tune which sets another standard for Shoniwa's impressive vocal, but IWE wastes her talent with a thudding emo number. It would be harsh to judge this album on the odd discrepancy, as generally this record is a triumph and a welcome arrival of a fresh new band.
7/10
Karl Pike
Your comments
Re "One MySpace tirade later, and the Noisettes became news for a few days after chastising Doherty for what they saw as a set hijack".
"Would you like to know why this tirade appeared? During the set, which they tried to reclaim, the lead singer dislocated her shoulder. Drew had to carry her off to an ambulance. During their exit, to the ambulance, they left with cheers from the crowd. How would you feel if a bunch of idiots cheered on, while one of your closest friends was in some serious pain?" - Shazad Ahmed