Nothing much to say except, listen and enjoy! Oh, is that Milla Jovovich?
The is from the album Foe (2012)
Some Review:
The question of nationhood, of collective identity seems to linger more strongly than ever.Man Without Country are a duo from Cardiff consisting of Tomas Greenhalf and Ryan James (with the addition of drummer Mike Monaghan for live shows).
Determined to work with fresh technology, rather than be in thrall to it, Man Without Country’s ten-song debut album Foe was produced entirely in Tomas’s bedroom. The album was mixed by Ken Thomas who previously worked with M83 and Sigur Ros.
The band name derives from a sense of not belonging, they say. That feeling is a constant theme throughout the album. According to James “Foe sums up the lyrics of the whole album, a very short three-letter word, for a quite hateful album.”
The often dark and melancholic sound is underlined by their poignant lyrics and despite the obvious musical differences it reminds me of the darkness that also surrounds other welsh bands such as Manic Street Preachers or Funeral For A Friend.
The album embraces the sound of the 80s. While the lyrics are dark and melancholic most of the songs are very danceable (Puppets, King Complex, and Inflammable Heart above all). In all of this the vocals clearly stand out. The singer’s mellow voice seems to emanate from the sound of the synthesizers. This is particularly evident on Ebb & Flow, my personal favourite on the album.
All in all Man Without Country have come up with an admirable debut that stands out from the monotony of most current electro pop bands. It is an album with catchy melodies, beautiful soundscapes and meaningful lyrics.
