After months of anticipation and speculation, the debut album from Fence Collective member U.N.P.O.C., Fifth Column, has finally arrived. And man, it’s been worth the wait.
Full of inspiring, melodic and, at times, fragile songs, this album just begs to be played over and over. Lyrically intelligent, the band are showing early signs of those vital ingredients needed to stand out from the crowd.
I say band, but U.N.P.O.C. is really the brainchild of one man, Tom Bauchop. This shy, self-effacing Edinburgh based artist, who refuses to play live because of stage fright, has produced a stunning lo-fi pop classic. And I haven’t heard this much great whistling since Alex Moore was in his prime.
The album’s opener, 'Amsterdam', shows Tom’s ability as a
modern day Dylan; “I was born a thousand million miles away in the forest they call Amsterdam, A direct descendant of the Kings and Queens, though they won’t say that I am.”
Although there is a surrealist thread running through some of his work, there are some gorgeous wee love songs here, especially “The Mary Chain” soaked 'Avignon'. Comparisons are easy to make of course, and if I must, I would say fans of The Beatles, The Jesus And Mary Chain, The Beach Boys and The White Stripes will love this album. So that should cover just about all of you then?
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As I stated earlier, U.N.P.O.C. also happen to be members of the Fife based Fence Collective. A micro record label based in the East Neuk, the Collective have an ever growing reputation for producing some of the most startling and innovative music to come out of Scotland in a long while. Debut albums from the Collective to look out for are by The Lone Pigeon (ex-Beta Band), King Creosote and James Yorkston and The Athletes.
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