Sons and Daughters - This Gift (Album)
In 2005 Sons & Daughters burst on to the scene with their debut longplayer The Repulsion Box which was like nothing else many of us had ever heard. It was a furious yet melodic blend of folk, punk and gothic country from a Scottish band not afraid of keeping their accents whilst belting it out. This Gift is their latest offering and sees them experimenting with a much more poppier sound.
One thing that stands out from the word go is how clean and crisp the production is on this album. Producer Bernard Butler (ex Suede) has certainly brought the band to a new level but I have a feeling old fans will be critical of his pop influence here. Although saying it is an all out pop album would be less than fair as there is still some dirty big guitar riffing going on here, plus the lyrics are darker and more venomous than anything that you would hear on commercial radio. Another major change is that fact that the duelling vocals of Adele Bethel and guitarist Scott Paterson have more or less ceased, with Bethel taking the spotlight now and Paterson mostly providing backing vocals. There is no doubt that Bethel is a more talented singer than Paterson but the juxtaposition between her powerful melodic voice and his monotone ramblings were something that made them quite unique. This is not to say it is a bad album – every song on this could be a single, it is that it just feels like an altogether new band with Bethel at the helm.
Opening track 'Gilt Complex' pretty much sets the mood for the album and comes across like a lovechild of The Cramps and The B-52’s with its stomping rockabilly beat and noticeably stronger vocal range of Bethel. All of the songs are catchy and punchy numbers which will no doubt make it a popular party album - particularly with big sing-along choruses and infectious ‘wooah’ and ‘na na na’ style backing vocals such as those found on ‘Chains’ and ‘Rebel With The Ghost’. Whilst all songs have their strong points it is ‘House In My Head’ that really stands out with Bethel’s vocals on fire, a thumping rhythm section and some of the filthiest guitar sounds found on the album.
Personally I preferred the rawness of The Repulsion Box but I also understand that a band needs to evolve. I daresay this album will gain them more commercial success than the last but it will be at the cost of some fans of their older style.
