Pete Murdoch, Emily Siddall and Ben Winn met when playing samba, they formed Sargasso Trio and have released their debut album Burnin’ Burnin Burnin’ on Boy Scout Recordings. The three play numerous instruments and often share vocal duties on a set of songs that burn and yearn, but lack variety.

The band chip away at blues and folk influenced minimalism with 80s style electronics for a lot of the first half of the album. While they make a strong showing of this in tracks like ‘The Drum’ and ‘Baby I’m Depraved’, it can often sound too studied and even retained. ‘You Make Me Sweat’ tries for nervy and wire-y but just doesn’t quite manage it, it is especially disappointing as it comes after the most upbeat track of the album so far, (’The Drum’). ‘Why Do Birds Fall In Love’, is an unsuccessful attempt at blending the folkiness and the electronics, the vocals by Pete Murdoch seem very ordinary when in comparison to the other largest vocal contributor, Emily Siddall.

In many ways Siddall is the best thing about the album, ‘Baby I’m Depraved’, ‘Heels On Fire’ and ‘It’s Hot In Hell’ brilliantly showcase her bold but nuanced style, a touch of blues mixed with wide-screen country and someone like Sophie Ellis Bextor’s depth (except Siddall has a soul, unlike SEB). It’s no surprise those songs play so well, they are the most upbeat and sexy on the album. The typical sombreness and yearning of Murdoch’s vocals on tracks like ‘She’s A Woman’ and ‘Naked Lady’ whither in comparison.

There is an interesting experiment with structure near the end of the album, ‘Get Workin’ On Me’ is 7 minutes of drums and vocals, using Siddall’s voice on its own (with the other two appearing later on) and then with minimal drums, the track slowly builds into a samba party at the end. Although the track perhaps takes a little too much time to get there, the variation and experimentation is appreciated. But it highlights the album’s biggest problem, there isn’t enough adventurousness. Why can’t the samba influence be incorporated more, does the album really need both ‘Wide Sargasso Sea’ and ‘Man Walks’, do we really need the background easy listening of ‘Pressurize’? Surely some more playful and raucous tracks would benefit the album, because as it is, it stays too reserved and within it’s own comfort zone.
63%

Links
Sargasso Trio [myspace]