Palma Violets prove that they haven't lost their distinctive boyish charm on their newest record release.
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Palma Violets were formed in 2011, and by 2012 their first single, ‘Best of Friends’ had been voted NME’s Song of the Year. By the time they released their debut record, 180, via record label Rough Trade 2013 they had solidified their fan base, and it earned a well-deserved number eleven in the UK album charts. It’s obvious from hearing Danger in the Club that Palma Violets haven’t lost their distinctly raw and edgy sound that catapulted the band into the limelight a few years back.
Danger in the Club is one of those albums you need to listen to a few times over in order to really appreciate its intricacies, as it can come across as shouty on first listen. And before I go on I will address the very odd album opener… titled ‘Sweet Violets’ which is twenty-three seconds long and sounds like something the mics picked up during a studio session, and the band decided to leave it on to show off their quirky side (cute). The first proper track on the album ‘Hollywood (I Got It)’ is a catchy number that displays the rawness and depth of lead singer and guitarist Samuel Fryer’s voice. Title track ‘Danger in the Club’ is one of the weirdest on the album, with the song ending in a completely different place to where it began, but it is strangely likeable. The harmonica and jazzy piano all seem to add a very English layer to the track and it’s one of the best on the album. Another notable track of the generous thirteen is ‘Coming Over to My Place’, with the lovely lyric “I would rather die” resonating across the rest of the song. The album takes a slight dip into mellow waters by track seven, but ‘The Jacket Song’ manages to demonstrate Palma Violets’ ability to maintain their feistiness, minus the usual ruckus of their many instruments.
The album on a whole reminded me immensely of The Vaccines with a side of Sex Pistols (although obviously not as cool). All in all there is a nice mix of upbeat and melodious songs, and I would imagine this would make a great road trip record – it’s one to blow the speakers on. Lovers of slightly anarchic, rough and ready music, with a dash of English rowdy old man pub music will adore this latest release from Palma Violets.
Danger in the Club is out now via Rough Trade Records.
