Future Of The Left are a Welsh power quartet specializing in insanely tuneful bursts of noise. Formed in 2005 from the ashes of legendary aggro-rock provocateurs McLusky, they’ve refined their brand of adrenalinized punk over two essential albums and a handful of singles. And now, after a two-year hiatus and a line-up shuffle (losing a bassist, gaining a second guitarist and a new bassist) they’re back with their finest statement yet.
I already raved at length about the opening track, and the rest of the album holds to the same towering standard of quality. Fifteen tracks speed by in a colorful blur of shouting, stomping, gleeful rage and furious absurdism; the band’s newly expanded lineup lends their sound greater weight than on previous albums, without diminishing their sense of righteous mania. Lead singer and lyricist Andy Falkous suffers no fools, and doesn’t mince words while making that clear – in fact, he spews words with unchecked virulence, stringing idioms and pop-culture references and insults and exclamations and one-liners together in a wild squall of shrapnel and throat-shredding yowls. (Great credit is also due to Jimmy Watkins, Julia Ruzicka, and Jack Egglestone, whose guitar/bass/drums make up the other 3/4 of the band’s thunderous sound.)
Highlights are numerous, and each track has some element that knocks me for a loop: the metronomic pulse and steady rumble of “Beneath The Waves An Ocean”; the audacious rockstrutting, frantic pace, and swelling backing vocals of “Goals In Slow Motion”, the arpeggiated electronic tones and slow-boiling tension of “City Of Exploded Children”, the swaying rhythm and snarling delivery of “Sorry Dad, I Was Late For The Riots”, the full-frontal barrage of “I Am The Least Of Your Problems”, the disembodied robotic call-and-response in “A Guide To Men”, the formidable backbeat and steadily distorting echo FX of “Anchor”.
Future Of The Left are fighting the good fight, locked in battle against the forces of civility and boredom and docility, defending intelligence without giving in to the creeping forces of literalism, standing up for common sense in the face of conventional wisdom. And they remind us what rock music is really about: being unbelievably passionate about what you’re saying, even when you’re not sure exactly what you’re talking about. Shouting and jumping and FEELING. And making loud noises, because it feels good.
The Plot Against Common Sense is released today, on CD, LP, or as a digital download with three bonus tracks. Buy early and often for best results.
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