ALBUM REVIEW: DUTCH UNCLES - OUT OF TOUCH IN THE WILD

review by Richmal Lamb

Listen Up Manchester album rating: 5/10

If I asked you to name a Manchester band at random, what would you say? Chances are you would name one of the big guns such as Oasis, Joy Divison, The Smiths or The Stone Roses. Perhaps Elbow, Doves, The Buzzcocks or Happy Mondays would be your choice. It would be safe to hazard a guess that the Stockport collective of Dutch Uncles would probably be rather far down your list. Quietly turfing out their own brand of alternative indie-pop since 2008, “Out of Touch in the Wild” is their third album after 2009’s self titled LP, and 2011’s “Cadenza”.

Listening to “Out of Touch…”, the comparisons with another, more famous, art-pop band are an obvious chip-shaped elephant in the room. The first single, Fester, could easily have been lifted from Hot Chip’s last effort. You can’t argue that it isn’t punchy and playful, and it is by far one of the highlights of the album. The changing time signatures across the album, which Dutch Uncles are use to great effect in tracks such as Flexxin and Bellio, propel the songs forward and give vitality and energy. Sadly this energy is not translated to all the tracks; Phaedra sounds weary rather than the sombre tone they aim for, and Brio passes you by unmemorably. Godboy is this reviewer’s favourite track; in which Dutch Uncles attempt to break the Chip-mould and use time-change, pause and electronica to great effect. “Microscope Head” is also one of the most interesting lyrics I have heard in a while! I would recommend this record to fans of Hot Chip, Everything, Everything, Field Music and Holy Fuck.

There are more than a few touches of brilliance within this album, but not enough to cause you to venture towards repeat listenings. In stepping up with the production, Dutch Uncles appear to have divorced themselves from the more distinctive sound they honed for themselves on Candez. Less cool uncle, more lukewarm chip; Dutch Uncles are not in danger of bothering anyone’s "Manchester: Best of" playlists just yet.