Review: Joy

Joy - S/T (Folkwit Records)
It's all in the title, folks, and then again... not so much. Less a joyful listen as a deep and brooding LP's worth of tunes. A classic baroque rock 'n’ roll escapade, with an intense power that underpins each and every song. Joy visit all the stops from The Sound to Joy Division; easily as intense as both of these (whilst less indie rock than Joy Division, and less urgent than The Sound could be), whilst tacking on a classical element with Anja Naucler's cello that occasionally takes centre stage. As good as the use of the cello is, and it is very good, reducing Mark A. Huyghens' guitar to background support, it’s the voice of Francoise Vidick, as stern and mesmerizing as I have heard in recent times, which is beautifully equipped to enthrall us all, in much the same way as both Ian Curtis and Adrian Borland were able to in the past. Another aspect of the vocals is the androgynous quality of it, where at times you might just feel all at sea with the 'Boy? Girl? Either? Both?' questions. Or, of course, it may not bother you at all, and just add to the enjoyment.

If there’s one complaint that can be made, it’s that there’s no lighter material on this album with which to contrast these dark noir songs, and perhaps lighten the musical load for the listener. Still, both of the aforementioned bands were able to carry it off with aplomb, so maybe Joy (yep, a bit of a misnomer in one way, a bit of a homage in another) can do the same.
http://www.folkwit.biz/
Kev A.