REVIEW: A House, Wild Eyed and Ignorant (Radioactive)

- Reto Koradi

It's been suggested that this disc from A House is ideal for chasing a cat around the house and jumping up and down on the bed. While this reviewer doesn't have a cat to fully test this out, there's a lot of truth in this statement. This album doesn't let you sit still.

A House is a six piece band from Dublin, and with their fourth album they're trying to gain popularity outside Ireland and Great Britain. While the music is far from being traditionally Celtic, the origin is always obvious. On top of guitar, bass and drums they're also using harmonica, strings and brass. But more than that, it's just great pop music. There's nothing that's striking or new musically, but it's been a while since I had so much fun listening to a new album. And it doesn't take long until you start to sing along and jump up and down. The whole album is full of hooks and catchy melodies.

The UK top 40 single "Here Comes the Good Times", sort of a R'n'R anthem, might have the most chart potential, but it's not the best song on the album. There are at least half a dozen excellent tracks, slow ones like "Make Me Proud", more up-beat ones like "The Strong and the Silent", and most of them are nearly as catchy as "Everything I Am", with the partly acappella chorus.

There's more hidden under the surface of the cheerful pop tunes. The lyrics are witty and often ironic. They talk about the state of our world ("where bigger dogs eat smaller dogs over lunch, where there's always someone younger, cheaper and better than you"), and they're asking the big questions of mankind ("and when we die, can we got to the great big party in the sky?"). Even if they repeat old cliches ("dance with me, hold me... you're beautiful"), it's always with a twist that makes you feel that it's more a parody than serious.

If you have a weakness for music with Celtic influence and like bands like Dexys Midnight Runners, the Levellers or Black 47, this is a must get. And if you're just after a dose of fun pop a la Blur, you can't go wrong with Wild Eyed and Ignorant by A House.

The record label has a WWW site under http://radioactive.net.