Tribes

Having released their debut album 'Baby' at the beginning of 2012, Camden outfit Tribes haven't rested on their laurels bringing out a follow up.  Support band aficionados may have caught them in the last few years with the likes of The Kooks and Kaiser Chiefs, while anyone wishing to catch them in person now can take note of them currently touring the UK.

As you listen through 'Wish To Scream', the re-occurring thought is that Tribes may as well be Starsailor renamed - and not just because vocalist Johnny Lloyd at times sounds like James Walsh.  Like the Wigan outfit there is a favouring of mid-tempo, radio-friendly guitar songs that are perfectly reasonable, yet extremely difficult to get enthusiastic about.  The near-dozen tracks rarely establish themselves from one another, so where 'Get Some Healing' is nice enough and could encourage a sing-song, it struggles to really define itself against, say, 'Englishman On Sunset Boulevard'.  The gospel choir on the latter could certainly have been omitted though.  For the briefest of moments 'How The Other Half Live' sounds as though it could be a cover of Oasis' 'Supersonic', but Liam Gallagher's sneering attitude couldn't be much further from this polished production, while 'Looking For Shangri-La' fails to convince it is the anthem it wishes to be.  This shouldn't be mistaken as saying the song is bad, just that there's a lack of verve that is prevalent throughout the record that makes it equally difficult to love or loathe the songs. 

Alex lai

There's something of a nineties Britpop feel to Tribes' blend and that's absolutely no criticism; they a strong, guitar based indie band with a troop of melodic tunes that frankly just hit the spot.

Following the early Feeder-esque opener 'Whenever', Tribes' solid June-released debut single, previously bravely heralded as 'nigh on a Wonderwall of its' generation', reeks of Suede, Ocean Colour Scene, Blur and everything that was good about nineties Britpop, soaring sing-along chorus and all. 'Corner Of An English Field' then falls right into Tribes' rapidly becoming trademark recipe of simple, predictable chord progressions flavoured by strong melodies, especially with its' particularly soaring chorus tune. The verse vocals trail of at the end of phrases bringing to mind a Libertines style laziness but the fact is Tribes are everything that The Libertines could've (should've?) been, with their key element being damn decent melodies.

Continue reading: Tribes, Baby Album Review

'We Were Children' instantly brings to mind a flavour of the likes of Suede, Blue, Ocean Colour Scene and other 'nineties Britpop flavours, but that's by no means a criticism. The track sounds oaring loud verses with a contrasting catchy yet calmer chorus and obligatory guitar solo that then launches forward to a heavier version of the chorus. It may be brave to say, but 'We Were Children' is nigh on a 'Wonderwall' of its generation; it is short and snappy yet precisely formed, has already been Zane Lowe's Hottest Record In The World, and superbly announces the arrival of a band who, if they continue to churn out classics such as this, will be much loved and sung along to.

Perhaps a result of already being taken back to the 'nineties, Feeder spring to mind on hearing 'Girlfriend', another brief, verse-chorus-verse offering but again with a simple catchy chorus that declares Tribes' arrival to steal or at least share the manly, brit-pop revival-infused indie rock stage. 'Coming Of Age' then follows; an acoustic-guitar accompanied song that shows a more tender side to Tribes. The band may write with simple and predictable chord progressions and strumming patterns, but they're beneath nostalgic, youthful lyrics that everyone can relate to, sung through catchy, instantly like-able melodies, which makes their blend so endearing.

Continue reading: Tribes, We Were Children EP Review