Bearing in mind we often rail against the shortcomings of regulation indie pop at W&H, the idea of complaining when someone presents us with something hard to classify and full of ambition seems churlish. At least on paper.
Indeed, on paper the idea of huge, swooning vocals underpinned by orchestral arrangements
ranging from haunting to lavish probably seems pretty damn exciting. So it's frustrating to report that enigmatic trio SOCIETY OF IMAGINARY FRIENDS' new EP – which is certainly stuffed with such non-regulation-indie elements – leaves this writer feeling...well, confused more than downright disappointed, all things considered.
'The Moors' itself leads us off with atmosphere seeping from every pore and it's immediately apparent that – technically at least – vocalist Louise Kleber is quite a find. After all, in a world where the likes of Dido hold sway, someone who comes on with the diva-style grandiosity of a mutation of Kate Bush and Julee Cruise is going to stand out from the pack. Sadly, a memorable melody line is hard to pick out and when this is allied to the highbrow orchestral drift of the music, the results are rather icy and impenetrable. Incidentally, 'The Moors' referred to in the title are more likely to be moors of the Saddleworth/ North Yorks variety rather than North African ones, it seems. But I stand open to correction.
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Second track 'The Lovely Rain' is a piano ballad of a similarly grand design, though Louise is rather smokier in her delivery here. The track's brittle sparseness falls away when violin and accordion enter from stage left, although there's no doubt there's a real allure to it, as there is initially to the third tune 'Windows', which opens with Kleber a capella and sounding supremely haunting. Its' mystery remains intact when the gradual orchestral drone begins to embrace it, but then they go and ruin it by succumbing to a theatrical urge and getting all grandiose on us. Look guys, I know you've played the Camden Crawl and all, but surely one Muse is enough, eh?
Society Of Imaginary Friends, then, really are an enigma. They are surely to be praised for presenting us with a provocative sonic challenge and there's no doubt their technical expertise is second to none. At least here, though, the exotic flavours they proffer are too much of an acquired taste for this writer to get his palette around. Can I try something a bit milder next time around?
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