Redjetson

New General Catalogue is an eleven song debut album from the wilds of Southend. Its intent is clear from the opening track, Divorce, a full seven and a half minutes of haunting and dramatic guitar introspection. If you stay with the track for the majority of its duration then you may make it through the entire album. The flavour is dark, brooding and of painful passion. The recent single The City Moans captures the melancholy of vocal and atmospheric guitar, and is one of the more memorable compositions. A Reptile, Cold Blood has a compelling, moody intro that builds slowly towards a mini crescendo as if attempting to create an epic – whether they achieve that objective is debatable, but at just under six minutes you've plenty of time to decide. It could be argued that each song attempts to hit epic status, no doubt Redjetson fans will swear blind to its success. Wednesdays Rivals introduces a mere hint of xylophone as a welcome softener amid their trademark angst/calm drama fusion. The said instrument appearing in all its subtle glory for America Is Its Only Friend. At a little under ten minutes, the album closer, Pieces Go Missing, is almost a montage of the previous songs wrapped up in one.

Overall it's a good first album but not a great one. I certainly wouldn't write them off reaching that status. However, I'm torn between highlighting its one dimensionality and single pace, and that of a band who simply have their own style and know who they are. They should certainly be praised for their bravery of length of songs, and the production is crisp and all capturing. If you like the darker moments of Doves, Radiohead and (dare I say it) Coldplay, then investigate Redjetson. I'm interested enough to check out a live performance, and wouldn't be surprised if a year or two from now the world sits up and takes note. As for now its early days but a good start.