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The HampdensEven World Sony In 2003 the Perth based foursome The Hampdens released the 'Brightness Falls' EP and toured to Sydney, Melbourne and London. With plans for an album later this year The Hampdens have produced a 7 track offering to help whet our appetites. 'Even World' is pleasantly easy to take on board. The intricate and well constructed The Hype opens proceedings and builds beautifully to a positively dreamy chorus, suggesting the influence of groups such as Air and even Mercury Rev. The thing is, the next track is nothing like this: Wayward is a lovely piece of acoustic guitar-pop with vocal harmonies reminiscent of The Beach Boys and a strumming guitar which pays homage to Neil Young. However, the sound doesn't stay there either: third offering Mechanics Of Life is upbeat but disjointed and this is where the band need to do some work: an attempt to encompass too many styles can become troublesome and is so on this and other tracks. The good tracks are definitely great, but the less enjoyable tracks are so because the band has attempted to do too much. The good news is that The Hampdens are at a position where they only need to take it up a notch or two to create something really enjoyable and consistent. For The Hampdens it may not be a case of trying or working harder but maybe relaxing, opening up the sound and allowing some of the rough edges to remain.  |
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