It's always a bit surprising when a band like The Pigeon Detectives release a second album. Although last year's debut 'Wait For Me' certainly ticked the 'listenable/consistent/fun' boxes, it was essentially unessential, despite its occasional charm. The one thing that Matt Bowman and co. do have in their favour this time 'round, however, is one of the best British producers in the business (Stephen Street) behind the mixing desk for Emergency.
Studio wizard though Street may be, he can't work miracles - and a miracle of loaves-and-fishes proportions is what was needed to deliver this album from a code-red situation. The Pigeon Detectives' reason for existence becomes increasingly baffling as the forty-one minutes of Emergency wear on; an album apparently born of supreme laziness and lack of imagination, it's hard to believe that the Leeds band were regarded as contenders by some, this time last year.
From the opening generic indie anthem This Is An Emergency to closing statement Everybody Wants Me, Emergency is laced with the same tiresome bouncy pop-rock that the Kaiser Chiefs have already figuratively bludgeoned to death; devoid of character, intelligence or any distinct feature whatsoever (apart from several tracks sounding like singer Matt Bowman's forgotten to put his teeth in), there's simply no saving grace here - although the Leeds quartet attempt a pilfering of Mystery Jets-style quirkiness on Love You For A Day (Hate You For A Week).
Like most predictable albums, there's at least one song which sums up its parent material perfectly - in this case, the aptly-titled Making Up Numbers. "What the fuck are we doing here? I've made my intentions clear, we should get out while we can!" shrieks Bowman. Which should have been an album ago, dear.
