The Wombats: The Wombats Proudly Present… This Modern Glitch – Music Review

RIYL: HARD-Fi, Kaiser Chiefs, Depeche Mode, The Kooks

The Wombats can be a bit cheeky. Take for example their 2004 EP, The Daring Adventures of Sgt. Wimbo and His Pet Otter, which featured the key track “You Made Me Feel Like Brad Pitt.” They’re young lads, but like it or not, they’re maturing with age. To prove this point, witness their 2011 release The Wombats Proudly Present… This Modern Glitch. It’s only their second full-length, but it showcases a lot more focus than the unbridled ADD that led to their staggering number of 7 previous EP’s.

“Our Perfect Disease” is a strong opener, stringing together twitchy synth-lines and stabbing electric guitar riffs with a propulsive beat. These Liverpudlians adhere to this formula thorough Glitch, and it definitely pays dividends. An exception would be the lead single “Tokyo (Vampires and Wolves).” It’s a perplexing choice for a single; the verses are strong but the chorus is mediocre and the lyrics are mostly stock. It aims for anthem but falls well short.

All is soon forgiven, however, with “Jump Into The Fog”, a slick jam with haunting atmospherics and a foot stomping, fist-pumping chorus that’s definitely arena ready. Frontman Matthew Murphy seems to reference a motel tryst but stays delightfully vague with the catchy refrain, “We feel nothing, so jump into the fog/ I just hope it’s your bones that shatter, not mine.” What does it mean? Who cares? With over 2 million hits on You Tube, you should be embarrassed if this isn’t on your iPhone yet.

The lyrics are more revealing on “Last Night I Dreamt…”, a jittery number which proves that explorations of mortality can still rock hard. It feels a bit half-baked at times, but its still affecting to hear Murphy croon the lines, “Last night I dreamt I died alone/ Through all my talk of self-defeat/ A fearful bomb ticks underneath.”

Another highlight was the touching shout-out to the 90’s “1996.” Over stabs of laser-like guitar and whimsical synth lines, Murphy lets himself get nostalgic, remembering how “We were cloning sheep in the 1990’s/ We were building telescopes.” It’s hard growing up, but This Modern Glitch proves it can be plenty rewarding as well.

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For More Information Visit:
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http://www.thewombats.co.uk
http://www.14thfloorrecords.com
http://www.brightantenna.com

Author: Gabe Vigh

Gabe is a Cambridge, MA based writer, photographer and artist. He is a big fan of recycling, Bob's Burgers, and a bit of a weather buff.