When Datarock released The Musical in 2015, it barely made a peep here in Australia, partly due to not being available on any streaming services. So in earnest it feels like new album Face the Brutality is the follow-up to the brilliant 2009 album Red. Rewind nearly a decade ago: the matching red tracksuit wearing Norwegians were touring that album around the country as part of Groovin’ The Moo Festival. Now the average fair-weather fan may have forgotten all about them.
So what does a Datarock album sound like in 2018? Clearly the fun, not-too-serious infectious tunes can still be found, but they don’t quite seem to be as upbeat or as plentiful.
Opener ‘BMX’ is an instrumental, which feels like a very odd choice. It picks up with ‘Ruffle Shuffle’ which is more like the Datarock we remember, but it still feels like it’s missing a certain pizazz. ‘Sense of Reason’ is vintage Datarock, with an instantly familiar beat and playful, catchy lyrics.
‘Laugh in the Face of Darkness’ is typical of the album as a whole; yes it sounds like Datarock, but it feels rather more subdued. Perhaps they’ve taken this route because the members have aged and their fans have too.
6.5
