MUSE

Hands up who remembers classical-rock outfit Sky? They had one major hit, the grandiose Toccata based on a Bach work that oddly seems to be the inspiration behind most of Muse's admittedly impressive career to date. Reapers is exactly what you want from Muse - a ridiculous riff here, flamboyance by the ferry-load and the kitchen-sink lobbed in from the special effects department. Oh and that trademark Bellamy wail. This is six minutes of fret-fuckery that is three minutes too long with way too much noodling, widdling, self-indulgence etc which actually makes preposterously good fun in small doses. The bit where the whole thing gains weight, grows balls and lets off a siren should have been looped for a few minutes instead.

This review also appeared also on Flipside Reviews.

Paul PLEDGER
27/06/2015