“HEARTWARMING” may not be the most obvious word to describe the third album from Nottingham’s SIX BY SEVEN: unruly noiseniks to a man, whose unfailing integrity may be rivalled only by FUGAZI, but still sees them unfairly sidelined commercially.
However, “Heartwarming” pretty much sums up your reaction after exposure to “The Way I Feel Today” in that it’s a suitably commanding return from this most individualistic of bands who have clearly turned the loss of guitarist Sam Hempton to their advantage and, in time, have fashioned a powerfully consistent album that sounds streets ahead of 2000’s sometimes great “The Closer You Get” to these warped ears.
Indeed, knowing leader Chris Olley’s hard line approach, he no doubt relished the challenge of showering “The Way I Feel Today” with its’ torrential guitars all by himself and the line-up shift has allowed SIX BY SEVEN’s other players – most notably keyboard player James Flower – additional space to stamp their credentials on the proceedings. Actually, Flower’s contributions shape many of the best tracks: not least the mournful piano coda that frames “So Close”; the poppy CURE-style hooks he inserts into “IOU Love” or the sad, accordion-type emblem that launches “American Beer.”
And what’s really cool about “The Way I Feel Today” is the way SIX BY SEVEN have immersed themselves in sweet pop sensibilities on several tracks. The naggingly catchy single “IOU Love” embraces both this straight ahead feel and Olley’s deeply emotional lyrics brilliantly. Ditto “Anyway”, until you realise the disgust and sarcasm in his voice, and – best of all – “All My Best New Friends” pitches itself somewhere between RADIOHEAD circa “Fake Plastic Trees” and Ronson-era BOWIE and is just stunning.
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There again, most of the remainder drags us back into more familiar SIX BY SEVEN territory and is souped up, cranked up and spat out with vicious aplomb. “Speed Is In, Speed Is Out”, “Cafeteria Rats” and particularly “Flypaper For Freaks” are riddled with short-circuiting frustration and roasted over hot coals of feedback. As ever, Chris Olley gives great first line: check out “You are the atom that started life” (“IOU Love”) or “I never promised you shit” that crunches us into “Flypaper For Freaks.”
There’s still the occasional knotty moment. For all its’ aspirations to be SONIC YOUTH, “Karen O” clatters hurdles all over the shop falling short and the diseased STOOGES-style attack of “Bad Man” initially flails aimlessly, though its’ scattershot rage hits the target squarely after several listens.
Nonetheless, “The Way I Feel Today” only reinforces the fact that we’ve gotta cherish individualistic irritants like SIX BY SEVEN in an increasingly slovenly, lacklustre world. Emo? Don’t make me laugh! A shot of this righteous ire is just what we should be demanding from our very best groups.
“Peace and love belong to someone else,” mourns Olley as the guitars go into meltdown on the title track. Maybe so, but this much heart and soul can never be denied.
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