This first UK release for New York's The Isles comes courtesy of
Manchester's melodic records - a fitting place to begin given the
three-piece's debt to a certain Mssrs. Morrissey and Marr.
The Isles produce fine slices of urbane melancholia replete with jangling
guitars and delicate vocals - Eve Of The Battle is less a roaring call to
arms than an early white flag. The tune is unobtrusive (in a good way), easy
on the ears, with really strong harmonies that call to mind The Thrills or Death Cab For Cutie. B-Side Flying Under Cheap Kites
indicates consistent quality and a lyrical virtuosity of which their
forebears would be proud.
So we welcome you, The Isles, to Britain. You may not be groundbreaking,
set-the-world-alight types, you might never play to football stadium crowds,
but we should love you all the same. Eve Of The Battle, appropriately,
leaves a sense of great anticipation.
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