They may sound as American as Bruce Springsteen eating a Big Mac while wrapped in the Stars 'n' Stripes, but don't be fooled; Phoenix are as French as Sacha Distel selling strings of garlic in Montmartre on Bastille Day. And that's very French indeed, trust us. The Parisian quartet, who count Sofia and Roman Coppolla amongst their fans, have actually been around long enough to make two previous albums (2000's critically-acclaimed debut United and 2004's Alphabetical) despite remaining largely unknown here and in the UK - and their affection for the USA is conspicuous not only in Thomas Mars' distinctly non-French twang, but in their music, too. Rather unfairly - and lazily - mooted as 'The Saviours of MOR', it'd be foolhardy to suggest that Phoenix don't draw from bands such as Hall & Oates, Fleetwood Mac and Steely Dan; yet there's a joie de vivre about their sound that counteracts any lethargic re-hashes of 70s/80s soft rock anthems. It's Never Been Like That is a compact 36 minute-long collection of charming indie-pop songs; most replete with jangly/staccato acoustic rhythms and heart-on-sleeve lyrics, all enshrouded with a warm fuzz that provides an instantly retro resonance. Opener Napoleon Says, along with pop anthem Sometimes In A Fall allude to the rich melodies that Brendan Benson is celebrated for; standout tracks Consolation Prizes and Long Distance Call should both be huge summer hits, all sunshiney melodies, 60s pop and handclaps; and the initially sparse keyboard-led Lost and Found bursts into life in a blaze of tambourines and guitars. That's not to say that INBLT is thoroughly buoyant or without fault; the pace drops somewhat with melancholic instrumental North and fails to rekindle, leaving the last couple of tracks to fade out in a somewhat prosaic fashion. Still, Phoenix have crafted a mostly likeable, uptempo and spirited pop album; and one that's thankfully far from avant-garde or gloomy introspection. Encore!
