The London based band’s sophomore album has its excellent moments, even if it lacks the focus and edge of their breakthrough release.
Ahead of their November performance in Newcastle upon Tyne’s O2 City Hall, all-girl baroque pop group The Last Dinner Party have released their second album, ‘From the Pyre’. A mere year and a half on from their groundbreaking debut album ‘Prelude to Ecstasy’, the band have given fans a second taste of their theatrical pop-rock flare.
The album’s 2 lead singles, ‘This is the Killer Speaking’ and ‘The Scythe’ showed promise that the band’s sophomore record would take the same theatrical energy and unique personality, and advance the group’s sound, with ‘This is the Killer Speaking’ a personal favourite due to it’s tongue-in-cheek storytelling, excellent use of group vocals, and it’s interesting song structure.
However, the impressive takes on structure and songwriting that these songs hinted at, isn’t always followed up throughout the 10-song track list. The opening 2 tracks, these being ‘Agnus Dei’ and ‘Count the Ways’ seem to lack the edge lyrically that many of the debut album’s standout songs possessed. They both run a lot like more basic takes on the band’s usually more unique style, with a real lack of standout instrumentation or ear-catching lyrics.
That being said, the bulk of the album does offer some truly brilliant moments, on par with the highs of ‘Prelude to Ecstasy’. In particular, the 4 and half minute epic ‘Rifle’ is standout, from the second the organ notes open the song. From then on, the depiction of a bloody mess accompanied by blaring backing-vocals in the chorus, and an unsettling, ever changing tempo, construct a captivating song, not to mention the insertion of a French verse.
The following 3 songs, ‘Woman is a Tree’, ‘I Hold Your Anger’ and ‘Sail Away’ all offer the listener some focused and interesting takes on some familiar themes from the band, even if these songs sometimes lack a piercing melody or as remarkable an instrumental as elsewhere in the band’s discography. ‘Inferno’ brings the album to a pretty excellent end, with the piano led tune offering an infectious melody and relatable lyrics drawing upon ideas of self-image and worth.
Overall, whilst there are some excellent tracks to take from ‘From the Pyre’, the album does suffer from the sophomore inconsistency that many an artist falls victim to. ‘Rifle’, ‘This is the Killer Speaking’ and ‘Inferno’ are incredible on first listen, and whilst many of the other’s may grow to be favourites, they lack the initial punch that made songs such as ‘Sinner’, ‘My Lady of Mercy’ and ‘Caesar on a TV Screen’ so alluring.
Great review