Release Date: February 27th, 2012
Label: Unsigned
Website: www.thisisapopscene.co.uk
Facebook: www.facebook.com/this-is-a-popscene
Twitter: www.twitter.com/tiapopscene

Rating:

In aid of Cheltenham based charity WellChild, ‘This Is A Popscene #1′ is primarily a laudable compliation seeking to raise funds for an important and utterly deserving cause. Yet, as if this motive weren’t merit enough, this release also proves to bring together a succession of joyously upbeat tracks which can help to ease perhaps even the most grievous of troubles.

Kicking off with the tinkling guitars and understated melodies of Hello Moon‘s ‘Vanity’, rarely are we challenged as the fifteen song tracklist spills forth gem after gem of shimmering songcraft, whether it be the Death Cab For Cutie-isms of Nishwasher, the piano led swing of Rhode Island‘s ‘War With Iran’ or the danceable acoustic number from Third Smoke. What for the most part all these songs have in common here is a buoyant, hearty threat which runs through them, a certain gleeful optimism which is an infectious as it is refreshingly. Indeed, even the hulking groove of Bad Wolf‘s ‘Oh No Ego’ manages to send across a frenzied euphoria.

It’s impressive just how This Is A Popscene have managed to compile a set of songs which, although stylistically varied, all generate a similar ambience. The difference between the electronically driven ‘Two Hands Clapping’ and Eleventyfour‘s simplistically jaunty ‘The Friend Song’ may seem rather clear cut, yet their impact is strangely akin.

With so much modern music relying on pessimism and dejection for inspiration, songs of this nature really are a breath of fresh air. In a world where organizations such as WellChild are needed more and more, it’s a comfort to know that folk such as those at This Is A Popscene are not only generating constantly neccessary funds, they are also looking to spread a little heartwarming cheer in the process.

Written by Tony Bliss

Tags: Various Artists

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