The Hours - Narcissus Road

A cursive mix of indie-fied urban rhythms

Album Review by Neil Ferguson | 12 Mar 2007
Album title: Narcissus Road
Artist: The Hours
Label: A&M
Formed by former Pulp, Black Grape and Elastica collaborators, Ant Genn and Martin Slattery, The Hours have fused together the influences of everyone they've worked with in the past to create what could prove a modern, alternative classic. Built around piano driven rock and occasional balladry, there's a dash of Pulp's melody here and there and a healthy dose of Elastica's brass throughout. Effortlessly playing around with timbres and tempos, Narcissus Road is as inviting as it is lucid. A cursive mix of indie-fied urban rhythms, The Hours is The Streets gone indie. Simple, expressive and communicative, Narcissus Road is a gem that drags the carcass of piano rock into the 21st century. [Neil Ferguson]
Release date: 5 Feb. http://www.thehours.co.uk