The cover of Innisfallen's 'Reallusion' describes the band as the territory's second best band and on the strength of this album on Chisel My Records they may be the best songwriters .The album is full of well crafted indie pop and a great debut from this local band.Innisfallen is Cheung Lok-Ming Eric (vocal ,guitars) ,Tsang Kai-Sum Sam (lead guitar) ,Lam Chun-Lung (bass),Ho Sui-Cheong (drums). The opening track is a gentle piano based intro followed by 'Hours of Rain', wistful,melancholy indie with lyrics about the line between illusion and reality : 'The rain still patters on the window pane/dividing dreams and all realities '. The band show they're more than just an indie popoutfit on the next track,' Winter' - with its chiming,ringing chords, waltz-like rhythm and foreboding lyrics : 'Someone will take us away/after the nuclear winter ' and ' All of our vision is empty ',described on the band's blog as a bleak,Orwellian vision of the future..
'Of a Beautiful Soul ' is my favourite track with its optimistic lyrics : 'The guiding light leads us out of fear ' and ringing guitar chords - this should be made a download it's so good !On ' No Reply/The Reprise' there's more of an indiepop feel with its retro sensibility,beautiful harmony and disco beat. 'Sounds Behind the Wall' has more of an indierock feel with a great bass line,a song about the unseen powers that control our lives. 'Butterfly Effect' is about someone scared to take chances in their life - lots of jangly guitar and big chorus harmony. 'Hairsting 'shows the band at their most Radiohead in tone and the quality of the vocals.Another standout track is 'Song for Wistaria' with its psychedelic lyrics about ' sunburst flowers ' and 'metal falcons' and also a great track for the band to rock out to live despite its birth in visions of the 911 tragedy. 'Jackstraws' has some great guitars and melancholy lyrics about environmental destruction : 'So now you leave us all behind /and set the bleeding fields on fire'.
'The Last ColdFront is perfect for audience singalong and the album's final track is' Empty Shell' the bonus track acoustic track which metamorphoses into an angry storm of (electro?)guitars and drums. Favourite songs?' Of a Beautiful Soul ','Hours of Rain'.One of the best releases of 2007 -just get yourself a copy! Innisfallen CD on Chisel My Records.
Buy the album and see if you can spot the cinematic references ...they make cultured but passionate pop reminiscent of Suede and early 90s guitar bands..... ..... ..... ..