Graham Clark
Of Monsters and Men are a new 6-piece folk/indie pop band from Iceland. This new album has been very successful in Europe, mostly Germany where the album is still in the Top 20 album charts.
The album is a melodic journey through some very uplifting songs. In the UK they will probably appeal to the same audience that like Mumford and Sons and The Beautiful South – the single, ‘Little Talks’ could even be a ‘Beautiful South’ song such is the wordplay between the female and male vocals. Think of the South and their big hit ‘Rotterdam’ and you are nearly there, elsewhere they mix the vibrancy of Alphabeat with the tenacity of Deacon Blue and Arcade Fire.
The quality never slips on the album – ‘King and Lionheart’ is a harmonious love song that has a hook that has you gripped. On the track ‘Mountain Sound’ they deliver one of the albums high points – it is then you realise you are listening to an act who have more than enough good tracks up their sleeves and they could be a long-term proposition.
‘Six Weeks’ has a youthful and joyful feel, like most of the songs on the album. ‘Lakehouse’ starts off quietly and builds to a rousing chorus and you can almost feel yourself getting swept away with the track.
In a live context these tracks will come into their own and hopefully soon the band will be as successful in the UK as they already are in the rest of Europe and America. An undiscovered gem that deserves to cross over a mainstream audience.
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