The Take – Propeller

By paul

I think there’s something in the water down at the Household Name Records offices. Firstly they bring us the critically acclaimed (but not neccessarily by me) Capdown, and then stonking releases from the likes of Redlightsflash and Big D and the Kids Table. And if the word on the street is anything to go by, Ye Wiles are also set to do big things. But the band I believe eclipse them all are Welsh punks The Take.

Brought together from the ashes of Fishtake, the Cardiff foursome have produced a rocking record that blows many UK releases clean out of the water. Rockier than many of your melodic modern day punk bands, The Take offer a twist which sits rather nicely, combining poppier elements of the genre with a unique sound that keeps things fresh and envigorating. ‘Propeller’ is a record that is inventive and choc-full of soaring guitars and driving rhythms, as anyone who has witnessed the band live can testify.

The likes of ‘Recovery Bowl’ and the fantastic ‘New Driver’ are two fantastic efforts that really set the standard. It’s a standard that is hard to keep up, but the boys do so with ease churning out street-smart, witty lyricism throughout. ‘Naive’ begins like the perfect pop song and continues with some throbbing vocals and buzzsaw guitars which manage to standout on a record which is full of standout tracks. The bass lead intro of ‘Shy Away’ breaks down the pace of the record, but don’t be fooled as the guitars crack like a whip and fizz back into life.

The highlights continue with the magnificent ‘Gene Pool Song’ which is surely destined to pick up lots of airplay on the nation’s alternative radio stations, while ‘Low Ebb’ rocks like a small child on a rocking horse. There are definite nods towards the likes of Jawbreaker and even hints of Nirvana in The Take‘s sound, especially lyrically, so if you like your punk with a bit of added oomph, you’re looking in the right place. ‘Dig A Hive’ is in the same vein as much of Kurt Cobain’s stream-of-consciousness style, and the guitars are far more dirtier and scuzzy, showing that The Take can match the poppy and melodic with the less obvious. Even the last two tracks, ‘Refill’ and the brooding ‘Start Young’, get a big thumbs up because you never sense what is coming next. It’s unpredicatably brilliant stuff, unique yet carrying enough of a tried and tested formula to work for even the most lazy of listeners.

This is a band that should take the UK by storm next year. As classy a debut full-length as I’ve come across in a long while, this is the band that everyone should be raving about on HHN. There have been some fantastic UK releases this year, but this is well worthy of being added to any collection.

Paul

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