For a band that’s as British sounding as Spoon, it still strikes me as odd that they’re so criminally overlooked in this country. Hailing from Austin, Texas, lead Spooner Britt Daniel has always had one eye on the indie and punk past of the UK but has always twisted it with a touch of the more brooding American rock scene. The intriguingly titled Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga is Spoon’s sixth record and sees them distil everything that has preceded it into a perfectly formed 10 song, 36 minute record.

Beginning with the angry and angular Don’t Make Me A Target, the throaty riff and Daniel’s nasal drawl spit and snarl at you. A poignant attack on America’s foreign policy and one George W. Bush, the guitars flick and twist around the lyrics and, as an opening track, it sucks you into the record and you’ll find yourself humming the intro for weeks. Changing tact completely is The Ghost Of You Lingers, a solitary and echoing piano ducks and weaves whilst the, no pun intended, ghostly vocals whisper over it, filled with loss and rejection. It then shifts gear again, the pop-punk of You Got Yr. Cherry Bomb which is typical Spoon territory with it’s battling rhythm section, chunky synths and memorable riffs.

There’s just not a bad track on this album and it’s impressive that the quality never dips. Sure the pace is typically shifted up and down, but then it wouldn’t be a Spoon record without their twisted rhythms. This is their sharpest and most focused work to date, no meandering songs, no filler, it’s all great. The slick production also helps. This can, sometimes, detract from the songs, but Spoon have used it to their advantage. The multitudes of instruments and odd studio banter are all perfectly captured and involving. Listening on headphones you get completely immersed in the record, from Daniel’s oddball vocals to the jangling percussion and cutting riffs, everything sounds perfect.

The record ends with Black Like Me which bristles with acoustic guitars and piano and very reminiscent of Revolver-era Beatles. The song is tinged with sadness and longing, the swirling strings finish the record and make me think of Alice in Wonderland. But more of a reverse journey out of the rabbit hole and falling back into reality. Spoon seem to be able to mesmerise me and transport me into another world, one that’s totally involving that I find it hard to break out of. It’s just a shame that so few people get to experience this journey. Perhaps though, with Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga, Spoon can finally touch a new audience.
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Links
Spoon [official site] [myspace]
Look for an interview with the band coming soon on The Line of Best Fit!