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Album Review

Black Helicopter
Invisible Jet Ecstatic Peace!

Article written by Ged M - Jun 10, 2007

Remember the 1980s and, specifically, Mission of Burma, Pixies, Dinosaur Jr and Sonic Youth? Black Helicopter do because, back then, they used to be in ‘name’ Boston bands Green Magnet School and Kudgel who played alongside their more famous counterparts. It’s unsurprising then that ‘Invisible Jet’ should fit so neatly into the same niche.

There’s a toughness to the band, particularly in the Tim O’Shea’s seen-it-all vocals and Zach Lazar’s mighty bass, without it being macho guitar nonsense. Songs like ‘Liquorcoat’ are grinding guitar rock but with a sense of melody that takes off the harsher edge while in ‘All the Sense in the World’, the guitars mass like thunderheads in the Midwest before spilling all over the song in a Sonic Youth-type squall. By contrast, ‘Head of Steam’ is positively poppy, with added harmonies, and in ‘Buick Electra’ they hymn the sad story of their favourite car (incidentally the same car - 1966 model - in which Jayne Mansfield lost her head).

The album doesn’t pretend to break any new ground but, as recent records from Mission of Burma and Dinosaur Jr prove, the sound of those bands, and now Black Helicopter, continues to be anything but dated.

Links:
http://myspace.com/blackhelicopter

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