Slipped disc #11: The Rapture

Many a time we’ve been accused of favouring American acts over the British artisans. Well, to these critics - we’d like to draw attention of our Top 5 must-have discs that are all - British!? Stone the… scarecrows! And, Hail the Brits! [Not contrived but, if deemed hypocritical, blame our subconscience!]

Well, frankly my dear, ourselves have operated under the impression that proportionally more good alter-Rock comes out of America than the You Kay but, on the whole, perhaps, not as brave as the local artistes. Still, in the best Mary Contrary fashion, today we look at a great American album issued in September 2003.

In the popular Christmas carol the good King Wenceslas looks out on the Feast of Stephen, the date that we now call Boxing Day, and sees a poor man gathering winter fuel. However, if he were looking out from his castle today the King might well see hordes of shoppers gathering for another sale day splurge. His page would also inform him that an unprecedented number of shopping centres and stores opened on the day after Christmas. And yet, hardly any on the ‘spenders’ would, or have had, purchased one of the better albums of the year.

The Rapture’s ‘Echoes’ is exactly that, the resonance of the past that takes you way passed the retro-ism that’s been obsessing the mass-aimed creativity of late. Cognisant with New Wave and the 1970’s punk, as well as electronica/danceterium of the present, The Rapture lot make the case for the future. The quartet knows the lingos of yore well to create ‘nu-speak’.

Public Image Ltd, as if fronted by Pete Shelley [of the Buzzcocks], raises its chords in ‘Olio’, more chaotic [Gang Of Four-meets-The Fall] rings ‘Heaven’, magically pumping rhythms is ‘I Need Your Love’, A Certain Ratio-flirt-with-Talking Heads on ‘House of Jealous Lovers’ and the title track… The ambient, atmo-loaded, Joy Division-esque ‘Infatuation’ tolls it last.

Still, influences here are not to be measured in bands or songs, but in decades. None of the names are literally important but the spirit of them. The Rapture glisten with many splendorous tones.

Roger Moore made a career out of crappy looks; the world of entertainment is full of his ilk. The Rapture, better than The Strokes? Indubitably, my Dear Lone Ranger!

8.6/10