double handed
Reviewed by Hamish Cox
Published: 7 January 2010
lp: a book of back pages
Double Handed’s latest release "A Book of Back Pages" is a strong Prog Rock album that shows a band with a lot of diversity to offer. It is then sad for this reviewer to have just found out that the band has recently split. However, if Double Handed have decided to call it a day then they have finished off with a bit of style. So point me in the direction of some sporting memorabilia and call me OJ Simpson cause here we go into the world of "A Book of Back Pages".
The first thing you will notice about the LP is that the songs revolve around strange themes that are intertwined amongst clever lyrics, monster riffs and drums so pounding that you could attach them to a jackhammer and demolish a small country. First track ‘Truth Dies Young’ is a catchy debut that immediately draws you into the world of Double Handed. It has everything in it that you will come to expect of the rest of the album. The song is overwhelming with its continual riff changes, unique structures and soaring vocals. It contains an epic quality that sounds like the offspring of A Perfect Circle and the Mars Volta. Next track 'The Final Question' offers what I considered to be the most commercially orientated song on the album and this is by no means a bad thing. The track is catchy, as in 'wake up in your own sweat at three in the morning to realise you've already sung halfway through the main chorus and wondering how long you’ve been doing this for and if anybody’s heard you.' 'The Final Question' is a short, sharp and well crafted song that has whoever listening to it waiting for the main chorus.
Now I'm a fan of toilet breaks. I think they are useful as they also give you a chance to focus on deep thought and reflection, questions such as what is the meaning of life, are we moulded by genetics or environment and why does Superman wear a cape when he doesn’t need it to fly ? It is this reflection that makes toilet breaks so important (the toilet part of it is also important). However, Double Handed has failed to address this as next track ‘Glass Siddhartha (Perfect Dark Mike)' goes on for 13 minutes. A mammoth song that is so compelling you find yourself literally stuck (if you happen to be covered in glue) listening to the complexities of the arrangements until the final note. The album continues with '48 Hours', 'The Propulsion System' and 'Sit Still'. These tracks are beautifully arranged to keep the listener focused and entertained on the musicianship at hand. Jess Porter and Cameron Sanderson wail on their guitars like men possessed, whilst Fox Faehrmann drives the songs with a focus and determination that is usually reserved for surgeons, or those guys that do wood chopping at the Adelaide Show. Simon Newenham offers some soothing bass that nearly hits 'the brown note' on the odd occasion just from awesomeness; couple this with Nick Russell’s haunting vocals and you have an album full of some top notch songs that offer a slice of prog rock cake to the listeners that you can eat it up with a spoon.
Hands up who likes Saxophone? Spandau Ballet put your hand down because Double Handed offer it up like Oprah giving out advice. It is everywhere and as a child of the 80s I love it! The Sax fits in perfectly with the mix and offers some unique and captivating melodic lines that really heighten the power and impact of the songs. A brilliant use of a majestic instrument (majestic may be a bit strong. That word should only be used in regards to beards or fantastic aerial displays).
"A Book of Back Pages" keeps going from strength to strength with 'Eugenics' being a real show stopper for me personally. The song offers some real suprises and grows on you with every listen. There is so much going on in this song that sometimes it's just too overwhelming. You hear something you really love and before you have a chance to digest it (with your ears - DO NOT EAT THE CD) the songs moved on to something else. Luckily for Double Handed the next part is usually just as incredible and makes you forget about the old part...but just briefly. 'Track 10' is a beautifully haunting album closer that shows that the band can switch from the intense layers of a wall of sound to a stripped back organ with a strong vocal performance by Nick Russell. If you stick around for a bit afterwards you also get a special bonus track, it's not a heavy rock cover of Salt N Pepper's 'Push It' but it's still bloody good and definitely is worth a couple of listens or 20.
"A Book of Back Pages" is a fantastic album that has been produced perfectly by Matt Hills. It is rare to find a producer who gets the bands sound but Matt Hills has done it perfectly. Double Handed are that weird quiet kid at work that always gets yelled at by the boss for day dreaming; he’s never yelled back before, but you know that when he does it’s going to be awesome! This is what "A Book of Back Pages" offers. At one minute it is subdued and harmless the next it is flipping out and going crazy. So if you like your rock prog and your guitar shreadded like cheese on a pizza then this is the album for you (that or a pizza anyway). After a couple of listens it really turned my balls around (I don’t know what this means but I heard some weird guy say it once and he was saying it in a positive way).
