- Words Darcy Culverhouse
Putting their twist on the well-trodden territory of alternative rock, Barcelona trio Speaker Cabinet drop their second album, 'Tales From New Babel’.
Alternative rock trio, Speaker Cabinets, unveil a science-fiction narrative in their second album Tales From New Babel.
Putting their twist on the well-trodden territory of alternative rock, Barcelona trio Speaker Cabinet have steadily evolved their hallmark sound. Characterised by unabashed authenticity imbued within an infectiously fun soundscape, their latest album, Tales From New Babel sees the trio push their sound to new realms. Enveloped within an intriguing sci-fi concept, the album follows the intricate narrative of siblings Suzan and Alan May’s journeying us through their fight for the rights of the people of New Babel.
Comprised of Nacho, Guillem and Adrià, Speaker Cabinet boldly fuse elements of psychedelic rock and electronica into their alternative indie-rock sound. Crafting an exuberant and immersive sonic landscape for listeners, Tales From New Babel, marks another chapter in their journey of transcending musical boundaries while conveying an all-encompassing story.
Throughout the album’s 10 tracks we see the narrative of the two protagonists, Suzan and Alan May fleshed out. The first track, ‘Ghost Town’ ignites with its energetic immediacy, with lyricism permeated with confidence, accompanied by lively guitar pushes. Suave confessions seamlessly transition into infectious wordless vocalisations. ‘The Fall’ glistens with synth-inducing nostalgia, boasting with anthemic guitar prowess, as ‘Suzan May’ sees a playful piano melody intertwining with a melodic guitar to create a dreamy pop soundscape.
The album’s second half unveils charismatic classic-rock appeal. From the enthralment of ‘The Pyre’ to ‘Doomsday’, a track filled with angsty vocal composure that’s guaranteed to make your head bob to its infectious rhythm.