Single Review :: Fjords - Polymath

Fjords

Polymath

March 1 2014 (Crookedman Records)

6.5/10

Words: Dave Beech


When I first heard Cardiff's Fjords for the first time, and they weren't the Scandinavian dream-pop band their name suggested they might be, I must admit I was a little disappointed. After a couple of listens to their forthcoming third single 'Polymath' however, my expectations didn't matter and I began to see what all the fuss was about. Kind of.

After winning numerous Battle of the Bands competitions, and being able to boast fellow Welshmen the Manic Street Preachers, as fans, it's clear that the band have a lot going for them - with Sonny Dagur's vocals being a highlight of 'Polymath' in particular. The problem I have with it is, while there's no denying the talent behind the band as a whole, the music they're making has been done before.

Clearly influenced by 80s legends such as New Order and Talking Heads, complete with angular riffs and pounding club beat, it's the kind of jaunty electro-indie you've come to expect from bands over the last couple of years, and while that is strictly a bad thing (particularly if you have the style and the conviction that Fjords do), it's just that it's a well-trodden path and one starting to get a little stale. And while that might sound a little harsh, it is worth pointing out that their previous single 'Domino' (which I listened to for reasons of comparison) fares far better and is actually a better example of how capable the band are as a unit.

We all know that certain genres sell better than others. And we all know that certain genres enjoy more popularity than others, the problems begin to arise however, when the market becomes, almost literally, saturated with similar sounding acts, all vying for your attention. And while there's certainly potential there for Fjords to diversify their sound on any forthcoming EP or full length, as a single 'Polymath' just seems all too familiar, and, as a band, they should probably steer clear of clichés if they want to stand head and shoulders above the monotony, the way that their talent suggests they can.