Friday 26 August 2011

Album Review : Hard Fi - Killer Sounds

After a lengthy absence Hard Fi return with new album ‘Killer Sounds’. 

The inevitable success of the Staines based band left a melting pot for many bands, first album ‘Stars Of CCTV’ had everything from Friday night battles to teenage pregnancies and everything in between which left us all scratching our noggins on a hopeful second album. ‘Once upon a time in the west’ hit number 1 but lacked impact on home soil though smashed charts around the world, a disappearance from the music scene followed.

Killer Sounds’ starts with a recognisable hip-hop beat accompanied by the usual Hard Fi twang of guitar, Richard Archer then leads us lyrically into a beat down of chanting ‘Good For Nothing’ and a catchy chorus.  Next single ‘Fire In The House’ boasts early 80s electro influence with Eurhythmics like break downs, first album returns with ‘Give it up’ whilst the movement of attempt in genre change is still very much on the surface of the music. 

From here it seems like everything joins together like a perfect puzzle piece by puzzle piece, Obvious influence being cited as 80s electro and quite possibly every boy band you’ve ever heard of. ‘Bring it on’ could be mistaken for an album track stolen from Take That's Mark Owen while ‘Feels So Good’ could once again be thrown beside his hit ‘Four Minute Warning’ with added bhangra. Album filler follows ‘Stop’ in a no-more-nails type way then with little or no effort ‘Stay alive’ makes no impact.

Excitement’ lacks just that and ‘Love Song’ seems a heavily influenced by 90s dance act Stardust with a lo-fi beat and botched vocals. Dub-step infused  ‘Sweat’ partners Hard Fi alongside Pitbull which could cause minor damage to the top 10 if released, Title track ‘Killer Sounds’ once again sounds like a member of Take That. If anybody can re-call the Robbie Williams album track ‘Me And My Monkey’ I need not explain further…failing that you tube is available.

A lengthy absence seems to have taken the Hard Fi boys on a journey through there parents CD collections, A positive beginning only ends in terrible disappointment. It’s not a HMV £2 Christmas gift, But they’d gave it a good go for nothing.


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