SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: HAMSANDWICH – MAGNIFY

HamsandwicH
Magnify
Route 109

Picking up cues in pop music is seemingly easy, you find an artist or artists, remodel, combine, and presto you’ve got your song or set of songs.

For some pop that indeed does not have to be hard, if you know how to use a formula. Yet, what happens when you are inspired by a pop band that doesn’t exactly follow the pop rulebook like, say, LCD Soundsystem?

Irish band HamsandwicH truly falls into the category of alt-pop bands that do not exactly follow the pop rulebook, like LCD Soundsystem and/or their next island neighbors Saint Etienne. And it is all confirmed by their latest and fourth album Magnify.

 Yes, HamsandwicH do operate in the same electro-pop realm as the two above-mentioned bands, but also make excursions into the more guitar-oriented sound like on “New Contender” here. Their signature sound though relies on the dual vocal interaction between Niamh Farell and Podge McNamee, with the excellent electro beats and equally good guitars from Brian Darcy.

That electro touch seems to be something new for HamsandwicH, but they swim in it with complete ease, and don’t forget to accentuate that alt rock tag they previously wore equally well.

Artist Links