The Sheffield-based indie pop act responsible for ÔÇÿHeavyweight Champion Of The WorldÔÇÖ have returned. Reverend And The MakersÔÇÖ fourth album came out on 24th Februrary and ÔÇÿThirtyTwoÔÇÖ has seen their highest pre-order figures to date. The band produced the album their selves with the helping hands of Youth and James Welsh.
Opener ‘Detonator’ starts where their previous album left off. Its distinctly ÔÇÿeightiesÔÇÖ sound continues throughout the record, lending tracks a retro feel. ‘Nostalgia’ has an almost reggae feel to it, while ‘Happy Song’ sounds like advert-sound tracking material. The lyrics of ÔÇÿThirtyTwoÔÇÖ may be playfully sardonic, but I canÔÇÖt help wanting to turn the record off so that I can get some headache relief. The mix of soothing electronica, reggae beats and odd dubstep moments come across as annoying at best. At times the songs sound like something thatÔÇÖd accompany a clown at a circus, which probably wasnÔÇÖt what they were going for.
Fans of the bandÔÇÖs distinct sound will probably be pleased with the heady combinations on offer here, but it is unlikely that this album is going to cement Reverend And The MakersÔÇÖ place in history, let alone the charts. Unfortunately, it is the music that lets it down. McClure could be saying the wittiest things known to man, but with that backing track, thereÔÇÖs just no way that I will stick around to listen.