Album: ‘In The Poppy Fields: One’ - The Alarm

Label: The Twenty First Century Recording Company
Released: Out Now on selected release, compilation album out later in 2003
Web: www.thealarm.com

Imagine a band that plays good music, the songs full of emotion, and doesn’t treat their fan base with disdain, even recording tracks for individual fans and letting them into the creative process of making an album.  You’ve just imagined The Alarm, a.k.a. Mike Peters.

‘In the Poppy Fields’ is an ambitious five-album venture, each sent to fans that are members of a ‘bond’.  ‘One’, not surprisingly cd one of the five) opens with full, ringing guitars.  Although the record is eclectic, full of different sounds and combinations, there are two main sounds that run through the album; fast, energetic songs and slower, more meaningful ones.

From the opener ‘Close’, you know you’re in for some acceleration.  Starting low-key at first ‘Close’ suddenly erupts with ringing guitars and energetic vocals that rise above the music, carrying the track in a very U2-ish kinda way.

In contrast, ‘Right Back Where I Started From’ lets you catch your breath and your blood pressure to relax.  It’s a lot slower, and characterises that second sound on the record with the lyrics full of meaning.  That’s not to say the faster tracks on the album don’t have such meaning, but you just pick up on it here straight away.  Tugging at your emotions ‘Right Back…’ seems to hit you in the face and rip open your heart, leaving you with that open feeling, your very insides throbbing.

Continuing in the slower vein is one of the real gems on the album ‘In the Beauty of my Surroundings’.  It’s got that sparkle, that little something extra that you can’t define, yet makes it live.  I defy anyone to not be compelled to sing along to it!  Maybe it’s how the track changes from fast to slow tempo, or maybe it’s Mike’s rising vocals, or just those half-second stops in the music, emphasising the vocals.  And that harmonica and little piano piece certainly do something as well.  Whatever it is, it’s fresh and blows the cobwebs away, making you feel alive.

‘Right Back…’ along with track 8 ‘The Life You Seek Does Not Exist’ seems to mark an introspective lyrical connection on the record of examining life and seeing what’s truly important, where you want to go and how to get there.  Musically ‘The Life…’ is another one of those great subdued tracks, dripping with emotion.

‘The Rock and Roll’ carries on in the slow meaningful theme, but musically it’s more diverse.  That harmonica makes another appearance, with a drum beat that gets more prominent as the track develops, building tension as it goes.  Diffusing the tension built up inside is a whole 15-second gap in between ‘The Rock and Roll’ and the next track ‘Contenders’, which is one of those cheery sounding songs you can’t help but smile at, allowing you to relax, just a little.

Swansong beautifully ends the album, leaving you wallowing in delicate waves of graceful Bowie-esque tones and haunting electric guitar.  Perfect.

8/10, Austin Booth