Album Review: The Tower and The Fool - XIII 7"

Now many may think of it as a feat of laziness to put out a 2-song 7”, however, in truth, if one is willing to release a record with only two tracks on it, the confidence level has to be brimming through the roof, and if those two tracks are enough to justify a record and truly make sense as just that, then surely the two track record is not the sign of a lax attitude to music, but an attempt at a mini work of genius.

Well let us just start by lowering our expectations a little, there’s no point in expecting 'The Dark Side of the Moon' in two tracks. However, the first half of the 7” ‘Die Alone’ is a pretty tight song, its lead guitar parts and its lyrics in particular are impressive, and although the vocal style may be an acquired taste to some, it should only take a minute or so to acquire.

And although love songs have been done to death, the grandiose of the desperation and final consequences this song deals with are those that we all have to face eventually and speaking of it is something barely touched on with sincerity in the vast majority of cases.

Although obviously it would be essentially beating a dead horse to complain that a two-song record is too short, it truly is a pity that it doesn’t go on for longer, especially due to the gruff vocal power of ‘NYC’, accompanied by an acoustic setting that’s almost ‘Fairytale of New York’ in its influences and empathy.

The two tracks touch an emotional nerve that isn’t stimulated by a lot of new music these days, from the raw sadness of ‘NYC’ to the cries for help of ‘Die Alone’, if there were more songs on this 7” it could become something of a chronicle for musical compliments to human life.

4/5

'XIII' is out now on Run For Cover Records.

Edward Strickson