The Brixton Academy - Bright As Diamonds
The Brixton Academy is learning how to handle heartbreak. Their latest full-length album Bright As Diamonds remains swamped in their signature blend of self-doubt and heartache, yet this time around the Tokyo group takes it with surprising swagger. Merging the ennui of last year’s breakthrough Vivid with the dancefloor-focused L.O.T. EP, TBA now strut through their sorrow and even sound sexy at times. Though not quite on the same level as Vivid, Bright As Diamonds captures TBA becoming more confident in their songwriting skills.
The Brixton Academy – Youth by tokyoindie
The basic elements of the group remain unchanged – TBA create New-Wave-inspired songs oozing with downtrodden lyrics delivered by a voice at times resembling Kermit The Frog’s. On Bright As Diamonds, though, everything comes off as tighter. First track “Neons Bright” is packed full of neon-tinged synths but everything clicks when the beat enters and this turns into a bouncy dance number. “One Time, One Night” and “When My Anthem Was Played” similarly sound like classic TBA turned more focused, both strong 80s throwbacks played completely seriously.
Bright As Diamonds best moments come when TBA step slightly outside their comfort zone. “Youth” relies heavily on guitar, building up to a John-Hughes-worthy climax. The biggest surprise, though, comes on the minimal “Two Shadows United.” Utilizing plenty of space, TBA make a legitimately sexy jam reminiscent of Junior Boys more intimate moments. It’s a bit of trickery, as the actual lyrics deal with missing someone, but the actual music seems bedroom-ready.
TBA’s only big misstep comes mid-album, when they kill the momentum built up by Diamond’s first five tracks with a pair of instrumental tracks. Both “Pyxis” and “It’s Cosmic” sounds more like rough sketches of something waiting to become a song than tunes that could stand on their own. One would have been pushing, and two back-to-back feel like a trudge.
Minus those so-so eight minutes, Bright Like Diamonds is a solid listen from one of Japan’s best bands going. This album isn’t any sort of game changer and it lacks a song approaching the sad majesty of last year’s “So Shy,” but overall it’s a catchy document showing a group getting more confident with their sound. Inner turmoil rarely sounds so danceable.
URL: http://the-brixton-academy.com/
Words: Patrick St. Michel
Translation: Iona Nagata
For more happenings in the Japanese alternative music scene – visit Patrick’s blog: Make Believe Melodies.
September 27, 2011
