The Whip - X Marks The Spot
Posted by
Ben Gomori at
01/04/2008 17:08:14
One of the few true bands in post-Klaxons side of rock ‘n’ rave, The Whip deliver a pop-infused debut album here on Fatboy Slim’s Southern Fried. X Marks The Spot is an atmospheric little piece fronted by the single Trash that was all the rage with the indie dance kids last summer.
Although it’s nice to have a band that knows how to play its own instruments in the era when triggering loops on Ableton is passed off as "live", the repetitive vocals and atmospheric synths get to be a bit much. Though catchy and often highly danceable, the album lacks the substance to give it repeated listening status.
This is not to say it is without its good points. Obviously Trash is an excellent song and Muzzle #1 helps to make up for the previously mentioned lack of substance. Having seen The Whip live several times I can say that these songs work a crowd quite well and are worth a listen at home when played individually.
The problem arises in that when playing the album as a whole it tends to merge all together into one blob of jingly guitars and nu-rave too-cool synth trickery. The end result is something that makes me think that The Whip was made for a cameo on Skins.