Which Bitch?

The View makes a grand leap forward

The Scottish band The View’s debut album Hats Off To The Buskers, which gave the world a hit Wasted Little Dj's was nominated for a Mercury Prize and that stands high. The guys got famous because of their ability to mix various styles in their music and yet make every song special. This year Kyle Falconer and his friends release their second creation Which Bitch?. The album showcases The View’s 180 degree turning from powerful, anthemic, stadium-aimed compositions to slower and complicatedly arranged ballads. Besides, the members’ interest to chamber music is revealed here even more whereas there were only hits of it on the debut work. As for the lyrics some slight cynicism towards the opposite sex now sounds in it and is sure to attract even more of the latter’s attention to the guys. One can also hear a number of fascinating stories from the members’ personal life which are not always joyful but informative and interesting. Stylish and diverse Which Bitch? proves to be a great continuation of the debut and a grand leap forward for The View.

The View’s wide range of musical interests on Which Bitch?

The album Which Bitch? literarily starts where its predecessor has finished from the track Typical Time 2, which is the continuation of Hats Off To The Buskers’ closer. The first single 5Rebbeccas is one of the few anthems on the record with witty lyrics and amazing drums and the song One Off Pretender tells about an unpleasant experience when the members spent a night in a jail cell. A beautiful ballad Unexpected pleases with a memorable tune, while another powerful track Temptation Dice also reminds from which The View has started. Yet all that is only meant to prepare us for a completely unexpected piece Distant Doubloon – inspired by the stories about a treasure island this monumental epos can be well considered the album’s central track and one of the best creations not only by The View has ever made but of this genre in general. Composition Jimmy's Crazy Conspiracy, after which one of the band’s successful tours was named in no less interesting, mostly with the lyrics containing a part in French whereas another surprise is track Covers performed with the young Scottish singer Paolo Nutini. The stories from the members’ debouche life are presented with songs Double Yellow Lines and Give Back The Sun and the record closer Gem Of A Bird is refined with a charming whistling, female vocals and guitars a bit reminiscent of American country music. On the whole The View has once again made an album of all different songs demonstrating the wide range of its musical interests.

A double effect

Although The View can be no more afraid that nobody would by tickets for their concert because the band is unknown it still goes on touring extensively around Great Britain and USA. From the very beginning the Scottish band has distinguished itself due to a simple and especially feel-home sound. One can say that on the one hand the creations of The View shine with faultless arrangements, distinct tunes and the musicians’ matched playing, on the other hand they seem to be the works of amateurs. This effect is probably reached because of Kyle’s wonderful, a bit tough vocals, his brandy Scottish pronunciation and a somewhat slighting manner of performance. In fact listening to some of the songs on Which Bitch?, one unwillingly imagines a group of young people gathered in the kitchen with guitars, wine and cigarettes, which makes The View’s music even more attractive. On other tracks, on the contrary, the orchestra arrangements amaze with their immensity and command respect. No doubt Which Bitch? will find itself among the year’s best indie-albums and The View’s popularity will increase times-fold.