Intercooler - Forever OrWhatever

Thu 8th Mar, 2007 in Music Reviews

Intercooler’s debut album Old School Is The New School captured the essence of a rock and roll band that thrived on big riffs and driving drums. After a four and a half year break (save for one EP), fans have a right to expect something special. And like any good rock band, Intercooler have delivered for the fans; Forever Or Whatever is nothing short of a masterpiece, a finely polished classic, which perfectly balances the band’s garage roots with their new found ability to make thought-provoking quieter rock.

The first sign that this is a more mature and developed Intercooler can be found in the opening moments of the first track. Far from the crash of guitars which opened Goodness Of The Girl, Sail This Into Me begins almost inaudibly, an acoustic guitar playing gently over some muted drum movements with frontman Phil Ballantyne’s vocals staying hushed and calm. Until, in true Intercooler style, it rises to an unforgettable crescendo, with a superb synth line taking over.

From there, it’s back to business as normal; Destiny, and first single Carving Others could easily be lifted from the band’s back catalogue, with their wailing riffs and big drums, but even here there’s something more to the songs. Even while rocking out, Intercooler sound more polished and practised than ever before. All Coming Back To Me sounds like the kind of song that previously would have been straight forward, but under the eye of the album’s producer Magoo, it becomes layered and complex, with vocals, drums and guitar all given their chance to shine.

Wasted My Day and Situations show off the band’s prowess for toe-tapping mid tempo rock, while Move From My Way and Pop Clothes bring back the heavy riffs and quickfire drum beats, although Pop Clothes sounds a little restricted. Darek Mudge is one of the best rock guitarists going round, and he shows off his skills on these tracks.

But it’s the album’s quieter moments that provide the real highlights. Come Back Down is a moody and haunting ballad, aided by Ballantyne’s diverse vocal range and abilities, which have come a long way since their last album. And the final three tracks are nothing short of astounding. Hold Me Again makes use of an electronic drum beat, and the title is chanted like a mantra, almost as a background echo; the track has Magoo’s fingerprints all over it. My Problem is a complex pop song, proving that such a thing is possible, and final track Ok Girl ends the album the way it began; with a soft acoustic number that expands and fills the space around it; the use of a chanting choir has never been so effective.

Forever Or Whatever will grab listeners from the very first listen, and with each subsequent hearing, there’s more and more to be discovered. Intercooler have set their sights high, and any music fan should be happy with the results; an absolute gem of an album from a band who have worked hard to craft their music into an unforgettable experience. With so many bands lacking the skill to match their ambition, it’s as much refreshing as it is rewarding to see a band record an album that balances power rock and pensive rock so perfectly.