Albums

Goose - Bring It On

Sam Floy 06/10/2006

Rating: 3/5

Goose seems to be a fitting description of the unadorned quartet from southern Belgium. Hitting the Europe scene with their gander-like noises, after being signed by Skint records in 2006, Goose have fed the continent's love for Electro glam-rock effectively.

Audience, last track on the album, was used by Coca-Cola for adverts across Europe after being written in 2002 and it is clearly leaning more towards to their rock history - Goose started out as “almost AC/DC” a tribute band with many lengthy guitar solos - and this an evident contrast to the more buoyant and experimental 'Check', a short 1m 40 filler track that give Goose a chance to express themselves with keyboards and beloved synthesizer.

The synthesizers play a large part in the majority of Goose's album, which results in the listener either loving or hating the use of the electronic sound machine. But for the hardcore Goose faithful 'Black Gloves' gives a mouth-watering display of how to use the full extent of the synthesizer, and when accompanied by keyboards, they generate their best record on the CD.

Throughout, Goose have distorted chords that are well brought together seamlessly - 'Bring it On' fourth track on the album is a prime example. What seems like spurted fax machine noises start off and a wide variety of other random sounds are thrown into the mixing bowl and it is only after the hallmark synthesizer is added to the equation you finally start to appreciate generated racket and realise that it is another half-decent track.

'Slow Down', however, lowers the usually upbeat tempo and Goose drag out this already sedative song. I have no problem with dropping the tone and showing the potential variety that Goose tried, but this leaves you feeling downbeat, dreary and unsympathetic towards the next few tracks. 'Check' and 'Modern Vision' stop the rot, they are nothing amazing but still help you to gradually lighten your mood and begin climbing out of the sombre ditch of despair. The strangely name 3T4 gives you the final helping hand back to you feel-good mood of before with cheerful and chirpy harmonies and set you up in a revitalised vibe and optimistic of a revolution in the last four tracks.

Goose deliver. 'Low Body' and 'Everyone' are better and bolder and mean that the album finishes strongly and you quickly forget the slight slump in the middle and remember just the quality beats that they produced at the beginning of the album.

By the end you feel a slight neck ache - a suspect RSI from all the rhythmic head nodding, but it is worth it. Goose have taken you on the rollercoaster Oblivion: starting high, an unholy drop in the middle and a spirited effort to reach the former glory but there just isn't enough time to achieve their earlier heights.

Goose do bare a resemblance to Daft Punk in the way that the big beats and minimal lyrics make their songs memorable, however I am doing Daft Punk and injustice by comparing them to the modest Goose, at least for the moment. Goose have given a spirited effort for a debut album that shows great potential and promise, its just DP have the experience that new-boys Goose will gain when they continue making music that brings them success and they have the time to find their feet.