Canadian rockers Tangiers released a promising debut last year, Hot New Spirits, filled with noisy dual-guitar 70s punk-influenced tunes. Already gone through a significant swap of members (losing the second guitar, acquiring a keyboardist and Guided By Voices drummer Jon McCann in the deal), Never Bring You Pleasure sees the band progressing with more distinctive songwriting with James Sayce’s vocals more up front. Though the sound is more spare and airy, it’s hardly as commercial as someone like The Killers.
The production is lean and ragged like Steve Albini’s work, and Sayce’s style is far too quirky and unpolished to reach a huge audience. Which is too bad in a way, as most people will miss out on the twee charm of “I Don’t Love You,” and the incredibly catchy “I Wanna Go Out,” a cracking powerpop tune that beats the hell out of anything by The Plimsouls or The Knack. Less immediate but just as rewarding to the attentive is “Spine To Your Necklace,” with furious strumming giving way to a glam stomper. McCann’s drums are thunderous throughout, lending muscle to even the tender, sweet passage of “Ro-Ro-Roland,” possibly a love song to an organ. Crafty hooks, inventive guitar effects and choppy reggae rhythms keep some of the lesser songs engaging, but doesn’t save “Your Colour” from dragging some. With those odds, Tangiers are a sure bet for further repeated listens and smoking gigs.
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