2013 has been a year much touted to be the year which will see the return of guitar bands.
Of course, some people will say that guitar music has never been gone, and that this so called ‘movement’ is simply an easy narrative used to help push these new bands. But for the people that do believe it is making a return, the 1975 are a band considered to be at the forefront of this imaginary renaissance. The four piece fronted by Matthew Healy, son of “Loose Woman” Denise Welch, have been key players on the Manchester underground scene for several years now, releasing four EPs. However, this year has seen them really catch the eye of the mainstream, which has lead them to playing several high profile festival slots, as well as supporting the Rolling Stones at Hyde Park. The release of their self titled, debut LP has been highly anticipated all year, and it doesn’t disappoint.
One of the key reasons for Healy and co’s rise to prominence this year has been the success of single ‘Chocolate’, a bouncy, catchy indie number with a chorus which lasts long in the memory. However, there is a lot more to the Manchester quartet than this indie tinged pop track may suggest, with several other tracks on the record taking a completely different direction in sound. ‘M.O.N.E.Y.’ suggests a big influence from 80s electronic music, with several ambient interludes throughout the record, including the title track ‘the 1975’, ‘An Encounter’, and ‘12‘ giving further signs of this.
Singing in an accent never heard on these isles before, certainly not in Manchester, Healy takes you on a musical adventure through many different inspirations, and an album which gets better as it goes on. ‘Sex‘ is a real highlight, with the floppy haired frontman debating whether a girl is worth it when she has “a boyfriend anyway”. Its great guitar riff makes it one of the more indie rock tracks on the album.
Tracks such as ‘Pressure’ are where the older influences are really noticeable, with 80s pop like guitar work and a real funky feel making it one of the stand out songs of the album. The only real disappointment with the LP is that it doesn’t stop here while it’s ahead, as closing track ‘Is There Somebody Who Can Watch You’ is a huge anti-climax to what would otherwise be an almost faultless effort. The piano led attempt at a ballad lacks the personality and charm of the rest of the album, and would really have been better off being left out.
It’s extremely hard to try and pin the 1975 down to one genre, as there are clearly many different influences to the music. However, the group have a way of channelling these different styles into one which sounds very fresh, and never at any point forced. At times they may sound more Olly Murs than Radiohead, as the pop influence is very prominent. But the clear musical talent in the band and Healy’s distinctive vocals add real groove and charm, creating a really enjoyable listen, and a very impressive debut album.