Album Review: TV ON THE RADIO – NINE TYPES OF LIGHT

‘TV on the Radio’ returned to live action a month ago at SXSW and I was delighted to be there to see the previewing of new album 'Nine Types of Light'. Despite bassist, Gerard Smith being absent having recently been diagnosed with lung cancer, guitarist/vocalist, Kyp Malone said that it felt great to be playing together again following over three years away. TVOTR return revitalised and reengaged from their various separate musical ventures in addition to Sitek’s new recording techniques. While lead singer, Tunde Adebimpe and bassist, Gerard Smith teamed up for ‘Fake Male Voice’, singer/guitarist, Kyp Malone cut a raw garage record under the guise of ‘Rain Machine’ and producer supreme, Dave Sitek moved to  LA  and collaborated with a host of up and coming and established artists with dance/pop project ‘Maximum Balloon’.

From TVOTRs debut album, ‘Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes’ to follow up, ‘Return to Cookie Mountain’ and the outstanding success of ‘Dear Science’ (which was heralded as 2008’s best album by ‘Rolling Stone’), many have eulogised over TVOTR’s sophisticated musical talents, but many fail to laud their diverse gamut of styles from jazz and a cappella music to psychedelia, modern soul and classic rock. Regardless of which of these their music follows, lead singer Tunde Adebimpe's talents are apparent with his oftentimes aggressive, but oh so delicate delivery.

The introductory ‘Second Song’ is a blissful little song with Adebimpe murmuring his deep lyrics prior to heavier beats and bass kicking in and a catchy little high pitched chorus that the lead carries off beautifully. ‘Keep Your Heart’ becomes something of a cosmic groove. It’s a pleasant, if a little quirky tune that leaves me feeling unsure. ‘You’ fails to win me back…I mean it’s a decent melody with a good heavy bass accompanying, but a tad empty and unimaginative. ‘No Future Shock’ takes us back to the more political themes that were a theme in ‘Dear Science’ with what is effectively a story of disillusionment with the world’s corporate powerhouses to which we can all relate. Killer Crane’ is a song that tenderly ebbs and flows with flourishes of strings, piano and banjo in this melodic number, while ‘Will Do’ follows this in a beautiful ballad that positively shimmers. I can visualise, Adebimpe posturing and nurturing this one on stage. ‘New Cannonball Blues’ is probably the most obvious of the ‘Maximum Balloon’ influence with dance undertones, before ‘Repetition’ follows with a zest and rocking beat that is welcome at this juncture…much more in line with the ‘Wolf Like Me’ and ‘Halfway Home’ sounds if perhaps a little more simplistic. Strings, horns and house type beats again play their part in the next whimsical track…‘Forgotten’ searches deep into the mystery of Beverly Hills culture. The curtain comes down with ‘Caffeinated Consciousness’ kicks in with chords something similar to INXS song, ‘Guns in the Sky’ before delving in to a bluesy rock vibe.

The second half of the album is the better half for me with more energy and creativity than the first. The TVOTR sound that I prefer is apparent on songs like ‘Wolf Like Me’ from ‘Return to Cookie Mountain’ and ‘Halfway Home’, ‘Dancing Choose’, ‘DLZ’ and ‘Love Dog’ from the brilliant ‘Dear Science’. Despite fairly high praise in the music world, this one just doesn’t stack up to the previous couple of releases. Rating 6.5/10.

Killer Crane

Repetition

Will Do

Caffeinated Consciousness