For some reason Southpaw don’t quite hit the spot that they should. I’m not quite sure why, but there’s something lacking in ‘Trajectories’ which hinders my enjoyment of the record. It doesn’t quite have the power or the passion to make the hairs on the back of my neck stand up, and it’s not catchy enough to have me sing along. It’s good, but not great, and with a sea of other bands of this ilk already slugging it out in an over-saturated genre, Southpaw don’t do the neccessary to stand out from the pack. Released on Boss Tuneage, a label more prolific than Ruud Van Nistelrooy, Southpaw have already featured on the Deep Elm ‘Emo Diairies’ sampler, as well as maintaining a 100% DIY ethic for which they should be commended. While they’ve gathered comparisons to the likes of Samiam, and praise from Sir John Peel and Steve Lamacq, they don’t get the same from me.
Although in places ‘Trajectories’ shines, in others it just passes me by – it’s not exciting enough to completely grab my attention. ‘Headache’ starts things off with strong verses, but it goes on for too long. While there’s emotion in abundance I’m not convinced vocalist Paul Whatrup always means it; there seems to be a little heart lacking in some of the songs. For example, during the verses in ‘Halo’ it seems like he’s going through the motions slightly. The album’s title-track slows things down and is the first sign of the band being able to mix it up. To me there’s an element of early Brandtson in there although with a British edge. It’s possibly best emphasised on ‘Out’, one of the better tracks, where the vocals have an edge that makes them stand out as the guitars swipe and scythe in true Deep Elm style. ‘Coffee Morning’ is another highlight, while ‘Inertia’ and ‘Burden’ also make an impact.
The major criticism for me is that too many of the songs sound the same, resulting in a feeling the record washes over you without making a major impact. There is no doubt at all this is a good record, but the elements that would make it great are missing. Southpaw‘s third album lacks that ‘x’ factor which would make it appeal to a wider audience, but fans of the Deep Elm label will probably lap this up.
Paul