Album Review: British India - Controller

It's a weird feeling when you realise that you're growing old with a band. No longer are they a band you listened to as a teenager who were five to ten years your senior, nor do they fit into the wunderkind category of young upstarts providing hype worldwide.

British India are one of those bands. Their rise has been slow and methodical, cutting their chops with countless (brilliant) gigs around Melbourne, before releasing a couple of EPs in 2005, and gaining national attention in 2007 with their debut triple j-friendly record Guillotine. 2008 and 2010 saw the release of Thieves and Avalanche respectively, and the local gigs morphed into national and international tours. 

Now they're back with Controller, their most polished and accomplished album to date. Age has matured the four members of British India, and as such Controller is a more expansive record. Singer Declan Melia's vocals are a lot more restrained – apart from the obvious exception of latest single Summer Forgive Me – and by dropping in a sneaky ballad or three (I Can Make You Love Me, Your Brand New Life and the unconvincing Swimming In Winter) there is enough diversity on Controller to keep diehard fans intrigued and new listeners instantly attracted.

There's a stripping back of the angst that they were known for on their earlier records, but for the most part – like The Vasco Era before them – enough remains on Controller to suggest that there's still plenty of fuel left in the tank. There is certainly enough going on to warrant the shelling out for tickets to that gig. Even if it does reflect your age.