British IndiaIs it possible that the rock world has run out of great choruses?
Not that every group should be pumping out sing-along anthems, but when it comes to the art of the three-minute alt-rock song, a sticky chorus can perform miracles for this slightly tired genre. Enter the latest album from Melbourne indie rockers British India titled Forgetting The Future. Although fully functional as a listenable piece of production-enhanced indie rock, Forgetting The Future should be a warning to all emerging alt rockers who aspire to become great, not just satisfying.
This may all sound a bit harsh, but it's only because alternative rock is a genre worth speaking up for. As an instrumental force, British India can certainly do more than just hold down the rhythm. Guitarist Nic Wilson displays a great level of technical prowess here, but with too much mid-tempo material and a tendency to try and spice things up with a blistering solo, his commendable skills feel sadly wasted. Likewise, lead singer Declan Melia has the perfect set of pipes for the job, only to be let down by some unfortunately flat choruses.
Forgetting The Future feels like a sparkler bomb in a genre that once held nukes.
