Semifinalists - 2
[V2]

The London-based trio’s unoriginally-titled second album arrives a couple of years after their eponymous debut first hit the shelves, and there is no questioning the record’s main inspiration. Although attempted with a modern slant, 80s disco influences define the record through and through, making the whole listening experience something akin to being buffeted back and forth through a twenty-five-year timeframe without stopping anywhere in the middle.

The nature of the musical landscape has altered somewhat since Semifinalists were last in the public eye, with various strains of dance and electro having injected a welcome dose of colour and vitality into our air, often with an eye or two on the decade of new wave. The Eighties have had their image re-shaped and improved no end by the recent stages of the Noughties. How much of the associated material have Semifinalists taken in the last two years though? Shit tons, by the sounds of it.

‘2’ does next to nothing in terms of moving anything forward however. The vast majority of what’s on offer here sounds boring and dated, and irrespective of quality, appears to be taking itself too seriously. ‘The Alphabet’ plods along aimlessly, ‘X Song’ contains one of the more annoying refrains you’re likely to here this year (“He didn’t knooooooooow about it” on loop) and ‘Ice Bowling’ peaks and troughs to the point where you feel like the focus was lost long before the track was even laid down.

With most of the material here failing to make its mark and clearly lacking some of the care-free fun of the band’s earlier stuff, I feel duty-bound to point out the two tracks which stand out as rare moments of quality where Semifinalists do actually hit the nail on the head. Album opener ‘Our Body’ is a moody, affecting slice of emotronic goodness whose catchy melodies and haunting middle eight make for a stirring 3¾ minutes, while ‘Odd Situation’ could easily be a lost Hot Chip jam, led by some confident, juicy guitar licks and a series of synths which leave you wanting more as the album progresses.

Sadly, you don’t get much more than those. For the most part, this album is hugely disappointing and fades into the background. There’s nothing particularly ground-breaking or challenging about it, from the title right down to the closing second. It’s derivative, and to be honest, a bit too shite.

2 Tracklisting:

1. Our Body
2. Last Pretending
3. The Alphabet
4. Loud Hearts
5. Odd Situation
6. The Stairs
7. Ice Bowling
8. X Song
9. Makeout Club
10. Manuscript
11. Surrender
12. Our Return