Put this on your grocery list (Music In Mouth - Bell X1)

Member Name: Midrange

Product:	Music In Mouth - Bell X1
Date:	14/09/08 (15 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Jaunty Irish rock, with strong emotion, strong hooks and great lyric-writing

Disadvantages: Some rather dull tracks - feel like they need a little more energy at times

I first came to know (and later love) Bell X1 through their history with highly acclaimed singer-songwriter Damien Rice. The Irish rock band were originally known as Juniper and Rice, who played with them at the time, often took the lead vocals. The band broke up but reformed soon after as Bell X1 - now missing Rice, but gaining a lot in return.

The band's sound is fresh and bright. Lead vocalist (and occasional live drummer) Paul Noonan has a wonderfully strong and steady Irish voice - melodic and lilting with a very different "feel" from that of Rice. Like Rice, Noonan pours his heart and soul into the music and delivers the lines with a bold kind of care-free flourish. He is backed by no less than 4 musicians (three of which sing backing vocals - painting a rich, full sound) with bangos, kazoos and harps joining the "traditional" rock line-up.

"Music in Mouth" is their second studio album and packs a fair punch. From the opener "Snakes & Snakes" you know you're in for some mature, slightly cynical but above all, meaningful song writing. Like the Scottish rock band Idlewild, Bell X1 clearly take pride in their lyric writing - no worn clichés in their songs. They're clever too. "Alphabet Soup" has a fantastic chorus and ends with the lines "What's that you're saying to me? Tomato coated spaghetti? ... it's going to be O.K." There's a great guitar hook here too.

Perhaps the best known song from this album is "Eve, the Apple of My Eye". It was used (I'm told) in an episode of the O.C. and caused quite a stir (I think it was the scene that caused the stir, rather than the song!) The music is beautiful though - lots of religious imagery going on here and a very strong, mournful, dark kind of jealousy to the lyrics. Great stuff.
Other highlights include the jaunty, folk-stylings of "West of her Spine" and the moving ballad "I'll See Your Heart and I'll Raise You Mine". There are, sadly, some more dull moments in the album. "Daybreak" (only the third track) has always struck me as an odd one - it feels very bland to me. Perhaps I'm missing it's special magic somewhere? "White Water Song" is also quite forgettable for me.

Overall, however, this album is colourful, emotional and brimming with musical diversity. The bango is tastefully done and sounds nothing like what Travis used to do with the instrument. Fresh and free.

Summary: Bell X1 stand apart from Damien Rice - strong sound from a mature band. Recommended.