You have to feel for Muse. Dismissed as a poor man’s early Radiohead on arrival. Even Thom Yorke got in on the act, calling Muse singer Matthew Bellamy a pale imitation of the original of the species.
There’s no denying the Radiohead influence can be heard loud and clear on their 1999 debut Showbiz, all tormented lyricism and US grunge inspired chorus explosions, not to mention Bellamy’s high pitched falsetto.
But to claim Muse are nothing more than devious copycats would be a huge injustice. Since Showbiz they have continually stretched their three piece sound, such as on 2003’s Absolution, wherein they combined classical piano romanticism with sci-fi rock theatricality. Today they are more akin to Queen, with added post-apocalyptic melancholy.
‘Supermassive Black Hole’ is the first single from their forthcoming album, Black Holes and Revelations, which is to be unleashed on 3 July.
They say:
NME: “One small step for Matt, one giant leap for Matt-kind.”
Contactmusic: “An extremely interesting teaser for the album, ‘Supermassive Black Hole’ is a skinny fit 70s leather jacket worn with ultra-contemporary fashion sense. It’s a good look.”
Blogcritics: “The presence of a slightly electronic dance edge in Muse’s leadoff single choice may help gain the band a wider audience. Only time will tell.”
We say:
‘Supermassive Black Hole’ is the song Goldfrapp never wrote but wish they had. It’s a fascinating piece of dance floor sleaze, Franz Ferdinand style fuzzy riffs giving way to a funky distorted bassline and Belgian tinged space age pimp electronica, with Bellamy gliding over the surface in full falsetto mode.
“You’re the queen of the superficial,” he sings like Prince on hard acid, simultaneously celebrating and mocking pop culture.
It’s neither profound nor meaningful, but ‘Supermassive Black Hole’ succeeds in sounding like three guys having fun making music; albeit music that is as seedy as it hypnotic. If this doesn’t put the Radiohead comparisons to rest, nothing will.
Like this? Try these:
Goldfrapp – Ooh La La
Soulwax – E Talking
RELEASED
Out now
LABEL
Wea
POSTED...
Thu 15 Jun 2006 at 3:58pm
