Future of the Left "The Plot Against Common Sense"

Xtra Mile Records, 2012

Triumphantly angry third for Cardiff Alt-Rockers

• Following the critical acclaim for their previous outing in 2009, former McLusky frontman Andy Falkous now leads an altered and extended line up of the Cardiff-based anarchic alt-rockers into battle with the band’s high-powered third.

• Blasting opener and lead single ‘Sheena is a T-Shirt Salesman’ proves in no uncertain terms that the Future of the Left train is very much thundering down a familar line as previously ventured, if only with increased purpose and velocity, if that were at all possible. The guitars still sneer and attack, and the occasionally complex post-rock rhythms remain, and ‘Beneath the Waves an Ocean’ for example has a growling distorted bassline that could fell a rhino! A trawl through the tracklisting also shows that Falkous brand vicious humour and sense of the absurd are still, pleasingly, very much present and correct (‘Failed Olympic Bid’, ‘Polymers Are Forever’, ‘Robocop4? – Fuck off Robocop!’ being particularly of note).

  Now augmented by a second guitarist (Jimmy Watkins) and bassist (Julia Ruzicka, formerly of Million Dead) giving Falkous an opportunity to make more use of his ancient Roland synthesiser, adding its jarring stabs into the mix, but maintaining the band’s brand of short sharp bursts of caustic rock, humour, fury and sarcasm. Falkous’s ever brilliant lyrics have only sharpened in directness, wit, barbed intelligence and despair at the ever-encircling crapness of humanity, since their last outing. ‘Failed Olympic Bid’ takes sideswipes at London-centricity, while ‘Sorry Dad, I Was Late for the Riots’ aims at part-time revolutionaries and class tourism. Elsewhere, the band can equally serve up brutally urgent yet melodic rock in the like of single ‘I am the Least of Your Problems’ and ‘Goals in Slow Motion’ with the added bonus of Ruzicka’s harmony; though the knowing and unique quirks are never far from leading the charge, adding up to the band’s most accomplished collection of songs to date.

  Delightfully uncompromising and utterly unique; Every time Future of the Left unleash a new record they remind as to why they are one of the finest and original alt-rock bands currently in operation. ‘The Plot Against Common Sense’ adds a mug of petrol to that burning assertion.