Tilly & The Wall - Pot Kettle Black

have brought us many a drama-filled pop song over the past eight years. But recently the noise coming from the unisex quintet has been an alien punk sound, exhibited in their recent album; ‘O’. ‘Pot Kettle Black’ is an example of this, with its shouty chanting and spiky electric guitar, it’s quite a contrast with their usual sugar-coated sounds.

Even though it is recognizably Tilly, ‘Pot Kettle Black’ is clearly a departure from the whimsical, hand-clapping, ‘Wild Like Children’ days. Singer Kianna Alarid’s voice has taken on a Beth Ditto rasp-like quality, which is beguiling to begin with, but the song soon reveals itself to be a repetitive and unadventurous offering.

The B sides however leave the listener yearning for more nostalgic Tilly tones. ‘Save Me Now’ is a classically pretty turn, with a country style guitar twanging at a measured pace, and a xylophone twinkling in the background as the song winds down. ‘Heartbeats’ is simply perfect. The stirring Garfunkel-esque piano accompanies angelic female harmonies, which move at a dream like pace. The lyrics are hazy and poetic; ‘When will the sea have the land?’ breaths the bittersweet chorus. It takes a mysterious and melodious shape, almost hymn like.

The two B-sides offer a wonderful listening experience; ‘Heartbeats’, especially, proves that Tilly are just as elegant as ever. It is a shame that the same cannot be said for ‘Pot Kettle Black’.