THEME
PARK
For about the last two years, Theme Park have been
celebrated on many 'ones to watch' lists and been given the thumbs up by Radio
1 DJs, such as Zane Lowe and Huw Stephens, who; unlike many of their colleagues
are renowned for having good radars on upcoming bands that are about to break.
The band also being associated with artists such as Cajun Dance Party and
Bombay Bicycle Club (their old school chums) presented them with big shoes to
step into. However, I think it's fair to say that the greatly anticipated debut
album from Theme Park isn't that much to celebrate.
The album first invites you in with 'Big Dream'; sure, the
track isn't exactly going to set any concert venues on fire, neither is it the
most spine-tingling song that 2013 has offered so far but it forms a low
expectation for the rest of the album, which therefore enables you to receive a
moderately pleasant surprise as you listen on. It begins with some simple drum
taps and guitar strums but even when a reasonably funky bassline appears the
track just fails to really get going. Miles Haughton's vocals seem somewhat
languid and adds to the song's rather lethargic feel that presents a kind of
'can't be bothered' attitude.
On the other hand,
the album does occasionally show sparks of promise through tracks like 'Two
Hours.' Again like many of the songs on the album Two Hours is quite slow to
start. It begins with a beat that could make your shoulders dance and sway and
maybe get your foot tapping then at 1:11 someone suddenly decides to hit the drums
a bit harder and faster. This unexpected release of energy soon permits your
whole body to get moving and you find yourself joining Miles as his voice
strains "can you feel anything?" Another highlight comes from the recently
released single 'Tonight' which provides a refreshing summery sound that is possibly
well and truly needed throughout this miserable time of the season.
To begin with
Saccades (Lines We Delay) just sounds like an uninspiring attempt at an electronic
sort of psychedelic backing track. Then at about 2:08 it's almost as if the
song puts down it's cigarette, gets up off the couch and says "do you know
what, I think I might actually make an effort." and starts to have a
cheeky little dance. Then at 3:12 just fully decides to throw itself into a
wild dance routine. Perhaps if Theme Park had just of been another new band
with their quirky and welcoming groove they would of emancipated a breath of
fresh air into the forever growing music industry. Unfortunately, at the moment
it still seems that they are standing in the shadows of their old school mates,
if only they could stop playing catch up on other artists' trails and lead a
race of their own.
