The Tall Ships – On Tariffs and Discovery

The Tall Ships sophomore album sees the US three-piece continue to hone their indie-art-rock compositions with explorative arrangements and understated production – easing us in with opener Call Confessions which shamelessly pilfers the melody from Wilco’s I Am Trying To Break Your Heart amongst swells of feedback and a hammer-on guitar riff.

It’s not until three songs in with All New Lows that the band really start to hit their stride, matching their experimental arranging with a winning chorus. The crowning achievement is centrepiece Destroy A Village, which veers from finger-picked acoustics and rumbling drums to stabby post-rock guitars with finesse. Lapsing into guitar-noodle territory all too often however makes On Tariffs and Discovery a commendable record but one that seems content to coax a gentle chin-stroke rather than to pack much of an emotional punch. It’s a thought-provoking listen, albeit not quite an essential one. [Alan Souter]