The Jezabels - The Man IsDead

Wed 25th Feb, 2009 in Music Reviews

This EP proves change is good. It kicks off with the anthemic first single Disco Biscuit Love, all pounding drums and soaring, operatic vocals. It’s light years from the glorious brood of early tracks like Noah’s Ark, but it’s just as affecting. The sultry vocals of Be A Star are guaranteed to make you miss Love Outside Andromeda in a few places, but it has the beating heart of a Springsteen pop song. Ornamented by piano chords and breathy vocals Sarah Blasko would be proud of, The Man Is Dead refuses to let the Arcade Fire stand alone atop the orchestra-as-indie-band mountain.

On the downside, though, the songs can feel a little repetitive. They all have a slightly low-key intro that swells into an explosion of piano and drums, and despite all being well-executed and heart-wrenching, it can be a bit samey. Apart from the subdued Unmarked Helicopters, the release is all hope and wonder expressed in similarly upbeat and melodic ways.

That said, the Jezabels have undoubtedly delivered a top-notch EP. The hype bubbling around them is well-deserved; the ambition in their sound is palpable, and they deliver enough drama to keep you interested in every track. The only downside with The Man Is Dead is that it leans heavy on the arch-indie pop side of their palette. For a first EP, though, that’s more than forgivable – in fact, the whole thing is downright heartening.

The Man Is Dead is out now, available online at iTunes and Waterfront Records.