Maccabees, Given To The Wild (Fiction) *** (From York Press)

Maccabees, Given To The Wild (Fiction) ***

11:24am Friday 20th January 2012 in CD reviews By Steve Carroll, Sports reporter

ORLANDO WEEKS has a vocal delivery that’s more Minster choir than rock god.

Perhaps the restriction that brings is partly why it has taken the Maccabees two-and-a-half years to follow up 2009’s popular Wall Of Arms.

That record, which brought with it main stage sets at the Reading and Leeds festivals, propelled the five-piece to the summit of a crowd which liked their music quiet and introspective, killing off the wall of sound for the indie generation.

Given To The Wild continues in that vein, discreet guitars and soft vocals backed by a sound which is almost orchestral.

While Wall Of Arms was carried along by the beautiful One Hand Holding and Love You Better, this is more of a slow burner. It may not have the same standout tracks, but it moves along well enough, the opening instrumental easing listeners into the fray.

There are blips. Child and Glimmer sound far too much like a poor man’s Coldplay for comfort, Weeks’ rather obviously apeing Chris Martin on both, while Forever I’ve Known is a wasted five-and-a-half minutes. But the successes far outweigh the failures. Single Pelican, one of the few times power chords are unleashed, is driven by brilliant harmonies while Feel To Follow soars on a ear-pleasing piano backing.

Given To The Wild is not a big step forward. If anything, it’s more stereotypical and conventional than either of their other two records. While it lacks originality, however, it is earnest and heartfelt. That is just about good enough.