British Sea Power
‘Do You Like Rock Music?’
(Rough Trade)

Brighton-based British Sea Power unveil their finest hour on this their triumphant third album.

‘Do You Like Rock Music?’ was recorded around the world – produced by BSP and Graham Sutton (Jarvis Cocker, Bark Psychosis), and recorded by Howard Bilerman with help from Efrim Menuck (Godspeed You! Black Emperor).

It was made in the Czech Republic, Canada and Fort Tregantle – a 19th Century fortification up on the Cornish cliffs. It was recorded by a band unafraid to embrace the far poles in arts and entertainment. BSP have toured with and been commended by David Bowie, The Flaming Lips, Lou Reed and Radiohead. But they’ve also been invited to play in celebration of the life and times of Sir John Betjeman, the late UK Poet Laureate, born in 1906. At the launch party for their debut album, BSP played alongside The Copper Family, a clan of Sussex folk singers who’ve been going for 200 years.

“It’s our version of Doctor Jekyll And Mr Hyde,” says guitarist Martin Noble. “It’s about cherry wood and Kevlar – about the good and the bad. There are reasons for anxiety at the moment – but if we’re in danger let’s address the danger with optimism, loud distorted chords and the knowledge that we’re at least trying. That’s rock music, isn’t it?”

‘Do you like rock music?’ Well you’ve no business here if you don’t!

The most expressive medium in human history providing undemanding employment for many thousands - rock music is all around us. It’s there in Iggy and it’s there in the high igneous rock formations of Helvellyn and Scafell Pike. It’s there in Black Francis, but also in the big Black Bear and in the rolling slopes of Black Sail Pass. Rock music is everywhere and nowhere. Missy Elliott, José Mourinho and Wayne Coyne are rock music. Kasabian, Mussolini and tuberculosis are not rock music. ‘Do You Like Rock Music?’ is rock music.

This is the album on which British Sea Power’s long game comes to a compelling conclusion. Good is arrayed against evil; rock music against non-rock music. Subject matter includes floods on Canvey Island, economic migration, Slavia Prague FC, heartache and the Apocalypse – plus the Great Skua and the wrestler born Shirley Crabtree and known as Big Daddy. The Great Skua is a big piratical sea bird. Here it provides the title for a gorgeous sweep of instrumental music – one strand in an album that moves from the six-minute rock fantasia of ‘Lights Out For Darker Skies’ to the beauteous alt-rock pastoral-soul of ‘No Need To Cry’. More than ever, writing and singing is equally divided between brothers Yan and Hamilton.

The song ‘Waving Flags’ – a stirring choral-rock tribute to Polish plumbers and groundbreaking nudist Hedy Lamarr – is perhaps the band’s most cogent, powerful moment yet. This is rock music as it should be, both ridiculous and profound – providing for the aching needs of both the higher and lower self.

‘Do you like rock music?’ Of course you do. It’s still here. And, on this evidence, has no reason to go away.
(4/5)