Brighton's premier indie-grunge duo's second album is something of a disappointment. 'Fire Like This' sounds more focused than their debut, sure - but the pair are still lacking in the variation required to make a really great record.
With their 2008 album 'Box of Secrets', Blood Red Shoes marketed themselves as more than just another boy/girl indie duo. The racket that the pair make is certainly forceful enough to knock Westlife off their stools, but, impressive as that debut was, there was also the sense that Laura-Mary Carter (guitar, vocals) and Steven Ansell (drums, vocals) had a way to go before they were the finished product.
Their second album 'Fire Like This' doesn't necessarily see the Brighton pair extinguish their punky spirit, but it does inititally seem like a more well-rounded, cohesive effort. Yet that doesn't necessarily mean that Blood Red Shoes have evolved, either; the danger with such a basic set-up of guitar and drums means that their scope for variety is obviously limited, and this album is again, much too samey to be deemed praiseworthy.
The common thread for all of 'Fire Like This''s songs is one of mid-'90s grunge – Nirvana, Hole and The Breeders seem to have played a role in its shaping, although there are occasionally deft touches ('Don't Ask' is about the best song here) that lighten the drudge somewhat. Carter's feminine voice sits well atop the heavy riffs, too, although her bandmate's jack-the-lad vocal swagger occasionally comes across as boorish/Kasabian-like.
It's a pity that by the time 'Keeping it Close' rolls around, full-scale tedium has set in. A somewhat solid effort for fans of alt-rock, maybe - but not a beautiful one.
