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Ok, so first off I must iterate the fact that this particular run down is in no particular order, nor is it a definitive list of the best British record labels of all time (as if such a breakdown could ever be truly quantified). It is simply a list of some personal favourites within the British...MORE>>
Just in hearing the Oregon based acoustic indie band The Builders and Butchers presents us with an immediate problem: what’s with the name?
Well, you could say it is a confusing one, does it have any real meaning? This is exactly the same question we can ask of the style and lyrics of one of their strongest song, Barcelona. Not only is there a peculiar mix of whiny tones (not dissimilar of Brian Molko from Placebo) and unusual Americana style instrumentals, but trumpets and Spanish guitars give the song a distinctly Hispanic feel.
From the word go this track is a manic composition of chaos, but despite the deadpan vocals, there are some really admirable sections of musical confidence, especially in the build up to the chorus. As mentioned before, the lyrics do seem quite random and meaningless, but they somehow fit in with the folksy Spanish tones and complement the atmospheric power that a few acoustic guitars and trumpets create.
Percussion is best described as basic in the song, and along with the vocals these are the only two aspects of the track that are noticeably uninspiring. It
is the nostalgic feel of the songs composition that makes Barcelona interesting, it brings back images of the western movie and galloping conquistadors. Some might say that the vocals are unique and give the band their distinctive sound, but I cant help but feel let down after listening to Barcelona. Everything else in the song tells me that this band know what they are doing, their genre of music is exceptionally stylised and it boasts a fusion of authentic sounds and modern execution.
The way the band has looked to other styles of music is nothing new, songs like Knights of Cydonia by Muse doffs its cap to traditional western sounds and combines them cleverly with a modern twist. The Builders and the Butchers have attempted to create such a combination, but maybe the finished product is not so polished, and after all, how seriously can you take a band that have such an uninspiring name? This is perhaps one of the only aspects of the band, along with the vocals, that may hold them back.
The band are currently playing various gigs around the east of the US, and you cant help but feel that if a bigger record label snatched them up, they would soon come to Europe.
