The Illusion of Safety

The Illusion of Safety review

The Hoosiers has surprised everyone

When The Hoosiers released its amazing debut album The Trick to Life three years ago anybody could hardly predict how easily the band could outdo itself. It seemed like those tracks were faultless and nothing could be improved neither in the arrangements nor in the vocal parts. Nevertheless there is always room for perfection – luckily, musicians and creative people on the whole are ready to confirm this statement as long as they are alive. As for Irwin Sparkes and his two band mates it is especially true about them. Their performances during the debut album support tour have proved that the guys can demonstrate matched playing not only in studio and they have quickly become one of the favorite bands among listeners in Great Britain, who have been expecting an interesting continuation from them. The recently released single Choices, however, surprised everyone: unimaginable eclectic, a pop tune, mesmerizing contagious dance beat – it all has become a herald of a new turn which The Hoosiers have made on its splendid sophomore effort The Illusion Of Safety.

Unrestrained fun, cynicism and self-confidence on The Illusion Of Safety

At first sight the record The Illusion Of Safety is quite a standard album consisting of 13 songs lasting 4 minutes on the average, the track titles quite agree with the fashion reigning among young indie bands nowadays but it is its content that leaves no doubt about The Hoosiers’ uniqueness. Those hints at the unrestrained fun, cynicism and self-confidence which filled the debut album have turned into full-fledged song components. The guys have placed the single Choices at the opening position to offer the 11 following breathtaking compositions next. Bumpy Ride built upon a powerful bass line conquers with Sparkes’ penetrating singing impossible not to sing along to whereas an ironic, a bit sad and self-criticizing song Who Said Anything (About Falling In Love)? is a mid-tempo rebuff of a life-disappointed cynic to a woman in love with him. The second single Unlikely Hero once again pleases with a danceable beat, melodious synthesizer chords and a pop tune perfectly fitting the singer’s high pitched vocals. Devil's In The Detail has proved to be the most complicated, sad, childishly soft and maturely wise number on the album, while Glorious is its complete opposite with a choir charging with its energy on a spectacular chorus. The arrangement on the composition Made To Measure rich in various effects underlines the emotions of the vocal line, whereas the house-beat on Sarajevo wonderfully harmonizes with a sullen text. The album closes with a very melodious and unusual song Little Brutes, the slowest, the most sensual, soulful and melancholic of all.

Contemporary pop sound with post punk elements

Indie pop is the genre ground providing enough freedom to those who are ready to express themselves in music, and it is the very territory for The Hoosiers where it feels comfortable because of the opportunity to realize all their insane ideas. One may think that the trio’s creations are remarkable for their boldness or bear an experimental character – it is not exactly like that though they do rock in the word’s positive meaning. These guys are well aware of their possibilities artfully dozing the expressive moments and underlining them with a more tranquil background. A melody within one and the same song can be monotonous and then all of a sudden explode with all the colors of the rainbow – this is probably the main peculiarity on the album The Illusion Of Safety. This music can be simultaneously compared to the works of Mika and The Cure for the traits of the contemporary pop sound are combined with post punk elements here making the listeners experience completely new feelings. Thus The Hoosiers has proved to be the band with enough inspiration for two successful albums, one better than the other and one can be sure that it will be also enough for the third one and more.