The Dutch band tries to pimp up their indie rock with synths.
After two albums between slacker and indie, Pip Blom and the quartet named after her want to take a step towards light-footed synth-pop. Their problem: They can’t really let go of the skirt. Simple guitar lines, often played in unison with the bass, determine BOBBIE’s sound, accompanied and sometimes overtaken by synthesizers.
The greater the electronic component, the more exciting it becomes – be it on the groovy, percussive “Tiger” or in “Kiss Me By The Candlelight”, which cleverly builds tension with alternating vocals, fluttering synthesizers and spooky vocal samples, which culminates in fat bass and triumphant trumpets discharge. Such innovative ideas are contrasted with classic indie rock that won’t blow anyone away.
Funnily enough, by far the best song on the album, “Is This Love,” doesn’t fall into either category, but is an absolute funk monster. Guest singer Alex Kapranos from Franz Ferdinand gives the song something that Pip Blom lacks a bit on BOBBIE: its own identity, a clear idea of where it should go.
Author: Elias Pietsch