bunnymen siberia

Seconds into opening track ‘Stormy Weather’ you know it’s Echo and The Bunnymen and they are doing what they do best. The thing here is if you have never liked the band then you never will. Rarely straying from the path they have trodden for the best part of the last three decade’s they are unlikely to change direction now.

This is the fourth album since their comeback in 1997 and, ignoring 2001’s uneventful Flowers, they have done little wrong. Ian McCulloch’s voice hasn’t altered despite years of smoking and dry ice machines and Will Sergeant’s guitar playing definitely sounds like the inspiration behind the current Coldplay sound as Chris Martin has suggested.

Album title ‘Siberia’ is obviously a statement of the band being out in the cold. The endorsement from Coldplay may bring a few more fans but the fan base, though ageing, is still plentiful. Ian McCulloch still believes they are one of the greatest bands ever, even if the general public seem keener on Keane.

Whilst there are no immediate anthems to rival the likes of The Killing Moon and The Cutter there are several gems that wouldn’t sound out of place on the classic albums, ‘All Because Of You Days’ and ‘Of A Life’ being good examples.

As album closer ‘What If We Are?’ states, “I know I’m alive ‘cos I know I’m not dead” and whilst this song has elements of future doubt the over-riding message is that the Bunnymen are in no hurry to call it a day. In summary, whilst not ground breaking or genre-defining, this is an album established fans can cherish and new recruits can use as a jump off into the back catalogue without wondering why the band still bother.

What's your view? Comment on the Forum

Other discussions on the SoundsXP forums right now...

Spread the word: Email this article

NAT JOHNSON - Interview

BROKEN FAMILY BAND - Live

SLOW DOWN TALLAHASSEE - Live

WAKE THE PRESIDENT - Live

WAVE PICTURES - Live

SCREAMING TEA PARTY - Live

DARREN HAYMAN - Live

SPEEDMARKET AVENUE - Live

BRAKES - Interview

OF MONTREAL - Live