Old World, New Wave (Neurot) might only be the second album by Los Angeles trio Ides of Gemini but it doesn’t half feel like a seminal moment for the underground band. Perhaps under some unfair scrutiny in the lead up to their debut album, 2012’s Constantinople, much of the naysaying and internet sneering was silenced largely because Ides of Gemini have what is unquestionably “A TALENT”.

The “talent” in question is the voice of lead singer Sera Timms. It is quite brilliant and you can understand all too easily why you would want to base your oeuvre around what Timms can do with her vocal chords. Herein lies part of the problem for Ides of Gemini in general and for Old World, New Wave in particular. Knowing how to manage talent properly is a skill – it takes time, application and insight. Not everyone excels at it and on the evidence of Old World, New Wave, Ides of Gemini, whilst not necessarily in danger of failing, have made some fairly rudimentary mistakes.

Opening track ‘Black Door’ suggests that they understand the talent management dilemma and are determined that they are not going to be a project based around one person’s vocal talents; no siree, they want you to regard Old World, New Wave as a “band effort”. The intent cannot be faulted but the execution can be- you don’t make a band sound like a band by simply turning up the drum track, I’m afraid. It’s a mistake that echoes across the entire record – in fact, at times you can’t move for being aurally assaulted by a tom-tom.

The second challenge is that of song writing. Whilst all of the songs here move along at an agreeable mid tempo clip with plenty of drums (see above), guitars and wistful vocalizing, many of the ideas feel unfinished. You can admire the band’s love of the arcane, the idiosyncratic and the other worldly, but what you can’t do is hum any of their tunes. There’s enough melody across the record to keep you listening but you keep listening in hope rather than expectation of reaching a high watermark. Regrettably, none comes and you’re left with the uncomfortable sense of all the songs seemingly blending into one rather like an occult blancmange – nice enough, but not exactly a proper trifle.

At the end of the day, Old World New Wave is alright, but that’s it – just alright. With a talent as good as Timms, though, you’re only left with a needling sense of disappointment that a talent like hers should be allowed to soar, not snore.

6.0/10

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MAT DAVIES