Ring Ring Rouge
Head Full of Fog
April 28 2014 (Jack To Phono)
6.5/10
Words: Dave Beech
Upon first listen, Ring Ring Rouge seemed to me to be the pop equivalent of methadone; a substitute tailor-made to appease anyone who thinks it's been too long since the last Keane record. Scratch below the surface, however, beneath the stadium-sized choruses that go hand in hand with the stadium-sized clichés, and 'Head Full of Fog' proves to be a fairly accomplished album that's shaped around a variety of influences. As a result it's nothing original, but that doesn't mean to say it isn't without merit.
'Never Leave Home' for instance, rocks towards its conclusion with a not-so-quiet confidence that you can easily imagine closing somewhere like V Festival, or a smaller stage at Glasto. Imagine if you can, U2 being influenced by late Stereophonics and you won't be far off the mark. Whilst fifth and six tracks, 'Interval' and 'Strangers' respectively, make for some of the most candid moments of the album and suggest a much deeper level of song writing than other tracks let on.
An album of polished production that's just begging for mainstream radio play, it's difficult to imagine 'Head Full of Fog' finding a place in the hearts of indie elitists. It is, however, entirely plausible that Ring Ring Rouge could find themselves following in the footsteps of the likes of Kodaline, playing arenas equal to the size of their ambitions.
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