I’m still buzzing after the Walt Disco gig in St. Lukes earlier this week, such was the beautiful exuberance of the band and the sheer joy that emanated from the stage. The band were genuinely having the time of their lives and are currently deservedly receiving great plaudits from far and wide. Their debut album album Unlearning cements the fact that these acclamations are warranted, its twelve spectacularly arresting songs should see the band hit the heights and continue to ride the crest of this colossal wave for some time to come.
Weightless
Weightless is a faultless and wholly appropriate album opener, a song that means a lot to the band and lyrically speaks of the strength of character it has taken to get where they are today, a song of discovery and acceptance. A few songs in and you could say Cut Your Hair picks up the baton lyrically from Weightless, a new confidence resulting in a raised middle finger to the world and a huge FUCK YOU to conformity and so-called societal norms.
Compellingly Striking Vocal
I can’t possibly review this album without mentioning one, of the many, USPs of Walt Disco for me, the compellingly striking vocals of James. I totally get why this won’t be for everyone. I mean in my opinion Billy MacKenzie had the best voice I’ve ever heard, but I know people who find it grates on them (just for the record – they are wrong…). James vocal possibly comes under that category, it maybe doesn’t do it for everyone, but, like I said, they are wrong…
His voice is so strong and captivating, very much his own, but to give an idea for those new to the band, there are times when there are hints of Bowie present, comparisons could be made to Sparks, and of course there is the channelling of the beautifully unusual spirit of the aforementioned Associates frontman. During the quieter more reflective moments on the album when James vocal becomes almost operatic in quality, verging on Anohni territory.
Enthralling
Walt Disco are more than just a voice though. The style and energy of the music providing the consummate bedfellow to this remarkable vocal, the quality of the musicianship and song arrangement enthralling, songs hitting you thick and fast, unrelenting in their addictive energy as each one closes, anticipation rises having you desperate for more, which they glady supply in bucketloads.
From the sweeping cinematic synth driven opener Weightless onwards, the album is packed with layer after layer of lush arrangements, the bass heavy throb of Selfish Lover immediately following before the seemingly effortlessly cool funky soul glam of How Cool Are You? and the bombastic attitude filled Cut Your Hair. With an opening quartet like that you can’t possibly fail
Soaring Theatrics
Just as you think things can’t get any better there is the soaring theatrics of Timeless a story of love that never was, compete with rifftastic outro, the operatics continuing into Be an Actor, before the instrumental The Costume Change signals the midpoint in proceedings.
Those Kept Close is as touchingly beautiful as it is atmospheric, evoking a stirringly poignant emotion. Hold Yourself as High as Her has a real 80’s hi-energy vibe to it, an underlying rhythm not unlike Bronski Beat’s Smalltown Boy. My Dear is epic in its slow build to a crashing melee of a crescendo.
As the album reaches its conclusion, the penultimate song is one of the album’s many highlights, Macilent is as menacing as the story it tells, all screaming riffs and desperation in the vocal, before the album closes with an uplifting flourish revelling in the magnificence of If I Had a Perfect Life from which the album takes its title. The end of a breathless thrill ride which will having you reach over, turn over the vinyl and lift the needle back to the start once again.
Walt Disco – Website