Album Review: Blood Red Shoes

There is a large demographic of music listeners that are going to adore Brighton duo Blood Red Shoes' third longplayer In Time To Voices – hey, many “reputable” UK music press are in the same boat. But the contrived angst on display is not enough to proclaim the advent of the new age of rock. In fact, if anything, it spells its demise.

Blood Red Shoes – Laura-Mary Carter and Steven Ansell – have carved out their craft by balancing on the knife-edge of aggression and tension, which has led to some uneasy moments on stage and reckless abandon on record. The problem with the new record is that whilst certain tracks such as single Cold offers a darker edge to their vitriolic indie rock, there is a glut of sounds that refuse to break anything resembling new ground. The title track rings off every other single that has come forth from their oeuvre, Night Light plods along as the “quintessential acoustic number,” and 7 Years fits the obligatory elongated quiet/loud closing track. The nihilistic Je Me Perds is a salicious blast to the head, but also works to showcase what is missing – soul. The production values are silky, the instrumentation is still spiky and competent, yet the melodies generally fall flat, replete of hooks and therefore no repeat value. 

For a band that have stood on their own fiery soapbox flipping the bird at mediocrity and fangless rock pretenders, In Times To Voices is surprisingly mediocre and fangless. Let's hope they have the strength to wipe the slate clean and find their inner rebel once more.