Albums

Tall Ships - There Is Nothing But Chemistry Here

Craig Broad 17/10/2010

Rating: 4.5/5

Tall Ships are back! I can actually write that and people will actually know who I am talking about. After some successful support slots playing with one of my favourite bands Minus The Bear alongside their own UK tours, they have managed, somehow, to fit in the time to record a new EP entitled 'There Is Nothing But Chemistry Here' which will be supported by tours with both Tubelord and also 65daysofstatic.

It's nice to see a band come on leaps and bounds since their debut EP, first track 'Plate Tectonics' oozes in its indie confidence complete with thank christ, vocals. The vocals are hardly Whitney Houston but they are endearing and not too far from what we would expect from Jake Snider of Minus The Bear fame. Second track 'Chemistry' is perhaps what Tall Ships were always missing before, a real single that deserves to be played on the radio, its jagged art-indie intro making way for a more subtle Tall Ships sound complete with the sing-a-long lyrics "There is nothing but chemistry here and with that in mind we have nothing to fear". Its gently built melody is exactly what the likes of Foals should be looking to create. 'Ode To Ancestors' has one of those moments, where my heart goes into my mouth and I wonder if Tall Ships are going to ruin the mood by going from something beautiful into something a little sea shanty and humourous like they would have in the past, but they surprise me and the off beat melody that comes in somehow adds to the song. 'Snow', possibly my least favourite on this EP is filled with electronic drums, colourful guitar melodies and bright keyboard melodies, it also sees a slight experimentation in terms of vocals, moving slightly away from the baritone of the previous tracks, which is a lovely addition.

It's easy to see how much Tall Ships have grown. 'There Is Nothing But Chemistry Here' is a mature indie release and if given the right publicity, there is no reason why this EP can't put Tall Ships on the map, sitting beside the hard-working bands they tour with and maybe even higher and onto the mainstream charts like the likes of Foals have achieved.

Tall Ships Myspace