With pre-released singles, ‘Lovers Come and Lovers Go’, ‘Falling To Pieces’, and ‘Summer Girl’ already drilled into the brain of every indie-lover, The Pigeon Detectives are raising the tension in the scene with the wait for their sixth studio album, ‘TV Show’. The band’s celebratory rerelease of ‘Emergency’ for its 15th anniversary from earlier this year has only heightened the desire for more of their brilliance.
Accompanied with a music video, ‘Falling To Pieces’ takes the opening of the album, bold guitar slashing through every bit of possible silence. Matt Bowman’s vocals match the electric energy, bringing the familiarity of The Pigeon Detectives’ authentic sound, and only raising the standards for the other tracks on the album. It’s inarguable that the music video is perfectly matched, with a pent-up display, broken up by an expressive performance from the band, alongside lyrics like, “Saying it’s peaceful when you’ve been so deceitful is a trait that I hate about you.”
After the three pre-released singles hosting a mighty opening for ‘TV Show’, six unheard tracks are bestowed on us, starting with the catchy ‘The Warning’ as track four. With a more edgy approach than their other pieces, I can’t help but relate this one to the likes of Biffy Clyro, using softer vocals over angsty instruments.
‘Dreaming Of A Song’ has to be my favourite song on the album. Fairly slow, but full of life, there isn’t a moment in this piece that isn’t perfect. Until the first chorus, the music is somewhat monotone, almost hollowed out to centre the spotlight on the vocals. The curveball that is the last half of the song really is the best part of all nine tracks. A short yet exciting guitar solo sees us into the final chorus, where every single member gives it their all. Striking guitar, fiery drums and bold vocals together… they really nailed it.
Following the announcement of the album was a set of dates in which the band will host performances in record stores across the UK, beginning from July 6. “We’ve got to a place where we can celebrate who we are, who we have been, and who we’re gonna be in the future,” says bassist Dave Best, in reference to what ‘TV Show’ means to the group. Their passion for music is so obviously revived with the quality of the new record and their eagerness to perform; this could quite possibly be the best era of The Pigeon Detectives.
Track seven – ‘TV Show’ – rightfully takes the album’s title, as what seems like a perfect representation of the rest of the pieces on the record. With flawless construction, the song is introduced with an upbeat tune, and progresses into a faster, emphatic sound for the chorus. Radiating an overall happy feel, it embodies the atmosphere of the rest of the album.
Closing out the nine tracks is ‘Purple Skies’, and it does it in the best way. With every aspect of the music at 100% energy, there couldn’t be a more exciting end to the album. A distinctive composition plays the main attraction, the repetitive lyrics only boosting the effects of the instruments. The music hooks you in, forming a distraction to everything else and calls your attention to the finale of ‘TV Show’.
Coming back with a brand new album after six years is sometimes the worst possible move that a band can make. However, that cannot be said for The Pigeon Detectives, who have used this opportunity to bring more love to their name. Things are only going up for this band, and I’m dying to see what comes next.
Video: The Pigeon Detectives – Falling To Pieces
