| POSTED BY: JEAN LEE
In Time To Voices is an album that strives on the absence of excess. Blood Red Shoes, an alternative rock group, have been known to strive in the quintessential alternative rock sound -- big. Past songs, like "I Wish I Was Someone Better," showed the best of intensity through drums and guitar strumming. In contrast, In Time To Voices is refined. This refinement does not take away the qualities that make the Brighton duet, Laura-Mary Carter and Steven Ansell, unique; it shows a maturity in sound.
The first and title track of the album, "In Time To Voices," features the sensual vocals of Laura-Mary Carter. The song, at first, is strangely reminiscent of Metric. This isn't at all a critique and the song soon moves into the unique sound of Blood Red Shoes. The song succeeds at being both sensual and chilling.
"Cold," the third track of the album, uses rhythmic method influenced by hip-hop. This track (easily the most appealing single) shows the best of the duo's instrumentals. Ansell's drumming becomes extremely inventive and is complimented by Carter's skilled guitar.
The album, overall, is well conceived and coherent song to song. The hypnotic, soft strumming song, "Night Light" is followed by the heavy "Je Me Perds." The contrast doesn't inhibit; it exhibits the variation of sounds in the album, even in the range of two songs. This methology is shown again in the placement of the swanging "Down Here in the Dark" following the catchy "Slip Into The Blue." The former seems to be rhythmically hip hop inspired while the later carries a pop influenced sound in the chorus.
Every sound, instrumental and vocal, is well-defined and balanced. Blood Red Shoes are still a duo that produces a sound like a five piece band. But well-defined musical skill and exploration of different grooves (who would have guessed they would ever be hip hop influenced?) show that Blood Red Shoes still have a lot to offer to the world.
Full disclosure: we're pretty big fans.
