Album: Elle Milano – Acres of Dead Space Cadets

For most Elle Milano fans the journey has been a long way and for the band the experience has been the same. There have been ups and downs along the way and losing a vital member of the band certainly had a major impact on the band. Over two years ago Elle Milano blew my brains out watching them in the tiniest pub in Camden and since then it has been a constant wonder whether they would produce an album. Thankfully they did and this Brighton three-piece battled through the problems of being a band and completed a great debut album.

‘Swearing’s For Art Students’ showed so much promise and it provided many music enthusiasts with their favourite new band. Them same fans have stuck with the band and now can listen to ‘Acres of Dead Space Cadets’ and feel extremely happy with Elle Milano’s debut album. First single from the album ‘My Brother, The Astronaut’ at three minutes nineteen seconds is everything we love about Elle Milano. Angry sharp lyrics and some fine guitar action epitomises the album in this one song. You get the idea Elle Milano have a sarcastic side to them with the lyric “You’re English, you’ll be fine” in ‘My Brother, The Astronaut’.

Second single starts off a lot more melodic and slower but as expected eighteen seconds into the song the angst we expect from Elle Milano kicks in. A dig at commercialism and boring towns Elle Milano are really trying to say something about the world we live in today. “Meanwhile in Hollywood, oh this worlds over you know. And in suburbia, oh this worlds over you know. But then I guess what would I know?” Elle Milano are not happy by Hollywood, suburbia and even the Middle East from the sound of this song.

If you want to be cheered up then the rest of the album is not for you as ‘Stepkids in Love’, ‘Carousels’, ‘Wonderfully Wonderful’ and ‘The Nightclub Is Over’ carry on in similar vein. Then again if you want cheering up along with empty lyrics and pop tripe then perhaps a band like Scouting for Girls/The Hoosiers/The Feeling is more for you.

Standout tracks ‘Curiosity Killed The Popstar’ and ‘Laughing All The Way To The Plank’ provide some much needed social commentary. Elle Milano sum up their difficulties with record labels with the lyric, “Why You Shouldn’t Sign To A Major Label – Available in hardback!” The first track of the album ‘Laughing All The Way To Plank’ is the epitome of Elle Milano and their ability to write three minute songs about everyday issues in this case boring dead end jobs: “Job satisfaction, I can’t get no. My head’s about to blow”. Elle Milano has created one of the best debut albums of the year; let’s just hope they get the credit they rightfully deserve over the coming months.

9.5/10