Album Review: Left by Hope Of The States

Is there some malign conspiracy to dull down previously intriguing British rock bands - or do newcomers really aspire to creating nothing more than gusty comfort-rock for the main stage at V? On early singles such as Black Dollar Bills, Chichester's Hope of the States displayed a promisingly dark streak, like Mogwai with songs; now they are merely Embrace with effects pedals. Worse, the sonic maximalism that once mapped broad horizons has turned inward. Left is an album in which few songs go unmolested by Rent-An-Orchestra (The Good Fight is a blatant bid to fill the air with glowing Nokias), and a potentially charming ballad such as The Church Choir is fattened like a foie-gras goose.

Full Review >>