October 24, 2002
Turin Brakes : Long Distance
...a good example of the least hip virtues still providing radically affecting music...
As was clear on their brilliant dual harmony debut album, 'The Optimist', tunes by TB's Olly and Gale don't easily fit the silicon-sexy zone of singles charts. Much of their keening, acoustic-based songwriting dramatises an emotional desert-scape alien to daytime radio. If there's a compromise with this lead-in to album two, its that 'Long Distance' rushes to soar up from the soulful piano chords, hitting a sumptuous chorus nearly as redemptive as their sneaky Top 40 hit 'Underdog (Save Me'). Tabloid judgement will still read 'Simon and Garfunkel on smack'. The bored shopper might find this a burst of organic piquancy amongst watery GM, and a good example of the least hip virtues still providing radically affecting music.
Roger Morton
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