British Sea Power: Valhalla Dancehall (Beggars)

By Ben Liew  •  01 Mar 2011 in Music

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It starts off promisingly enough with the riotous Manic Street-ish opener ‘Who’s In Control’. There are even a few explicit lyrics in there but soon after, you realise that’s as epic as Valhalla gets.

There are some nice rock-out moments but really, this is threading the same water as Do You Like Rock Music? Even when vocalist Neil Hamilton gets moody and tries to rekindle moments from Open Season, he sounds more Interpol than Joy Division. Still, the satirical sarcasm on ‘Living Is So Easy’ and the agitated urgency of ‘Stunde Null’ somewhat redeems the band in Her Majesty’s eyes and ours.

LISTEN TO: ‘Who’s In Control’
IF YOU LIKE THIS YOU’LL DIG: Brakes, Manic Street Preachers, Arcade Fire
RATING: 2.5

Set sail at www.myspace.com/britishseapower.