Hot on the heels of supporting indie rising stars Catfish & The Bottlemen during 2014, Talk in Code have released their self titled debut album and it happens to be produced by Geoff Swan of a certain Ed Sheeran fame.
The Swindon based indie 5 piece are comprised of frontman Chris Stevens with Mark Turner on bass, Al Sneddon on guitars, Stuart Marsh on Synths and Leks Wood on drums.
The poppy Limitless jauntily kicks off the album, with a keyboard riff Mark Kelly of Marillion would be proud of, and the scene is set for the remaining nine tracks.
Singles Stand and Catapult mix the same synths/guitar with a dance beat and a euphoric sing along chorus. Album highlight and potential ear worm material is Face to Face, again a simple song structure but with a pounding sing along chorus which I’m sure will be a live favourite.
Part dance, part indie, part power pop (if we were still in the 90’s, we’d be calling this synth rock), ridiculously melodic and memorable, TIC seem to have taken influences from the 90’s such as Mansun, Sleeper, yet remain contemporary towards the growing trend of rock-pop bands like the aforementioned CATB and Eliza And The Bear.
TIC are one of those feel good bands that seem to be growing in reputation and fanbase by good old fashioned hard work and word of mouth, and good luck to them for that.
There’s definitely a place for indie pop, and I defy anyone to listen to this album and not feel cheered up. Give it a go.
8/11
Keith @kjsmith4082
