- Label
- Atlantic
- Release date
- 3rd September 2007
- Genre
- Rock/pop
- Buy this album
- Order CD
Disappointingly po-faced second album from a Staines four-piece trying too hard to "keep it real"
Despite sales of over a million and a Mercury nomination for debut album Stars Of CCTV, you still can’t get the Staines out of Hard-Fi. First time around, an escapist joy fuelled their tales of suburban lad life, best encapsulated by hit single Living For The Weekend. Within their Clash indebted, dubby indie-pop and infectious terrace-chant choruses, dance music influences could also be felt – Hard To Beat was clearly written by Daft Punk fans. In 2005, Hard-Fi were arguably Britain’s most contemporary band.
Now, Hard-Fi appear po-faced, too eager to make a grand statement. Has an album cover ever been so misguided? What’s more, Once Upon A Time… is puzzlingly set lyrically in Staines again. Post-fame and fortune, sneering frontman Richard Archer must resort to storytelling but lacks the wit to pull it off: "They say we are at war, but ain’t got time for that coz these bills keep dropping through my door" is inexcusable, really. Musically, it sounds exactly like Hard-Fi with the clubby feel replaced by portentous string sections. Archer can still effortlessly knock out ear-worms for shout-along choruses but, the slinky Goldfrapp-esque glam-rock of We Need Love aside, this follow-up shows Hard-Fi desperately need to move on.
More to try: The Clash: London Calling The Specials: Specials Dexy’s Midnight Runners: Searching For The Young Soul Rebels
