Boat People, The - Antidote/Dance To My Pain (EP)

The Boat People are a band who have been plateauing for sometime now, this year’s Dear Darkly provided some gems (see ‘Soporific’ and ‘You Are Adored’), but the distinct mix of reverberous plucks and melodramatic lyrics presented didn’t quite hit the mark for the rest of the album. Which begs one to wonder why on earth two of the more unspectacular tracks on the album have been graced with their own EP in Antidote/Dance To My Pain.

Easily the weaker of the two, ‘Antidote’ opens with not much to inspire and then fails to surprise with it’s musicality, yet all would be forgiven were it not for it’s unnervingly cheesy and cliche-ridden lyrics. ‘Dance To My Pain’ offers some redemption, although the wonderfully creative music is somewhat dampened by the lyrics, once again. I think the old age I’m-an-artist-and-I-don’t-know-what-to-do-with-my-life was flawless in Heavy Heart, but it is quite obvious that in ‘Dance...’, the distinct sense of melancholy has not been perfected in the same way that Uncle Tim did so faultlessly.

Despite this, we are given something to smile about, the Ming The Merciless Pantydote (that’s easy for you to say) Remix of ‘Antidote’ is somewhat of a masterpiece. Channelled through the atmospheric stylings of Mogwai, Mono and other bringers of instrumental supremacy, the song is given a completely new life and almost makes the rest of the EP worth the listen.

Over the past year The Boat People have tried to do what The Temper Trap have done, to create anthemic heartbreakers that would have crowds hanging on every word (like U2 without the wankery). However, one whilst one is conquering the world and selling out the Hordern, the other is not. They are capable of matching The Temper Trap, I have no doubt about that, but if you want to see this listen to Dear Darkly, not this.

Share this review on Facebook