A memorable name is a useful starting point to draw folks in to checking out what you have to offer. By naming their band after an infamous group of female pickpockets from the Elephant and Castle, this East London based trio have secured the ideal starting point and are well equipped to warm those who take a punt on their brand of folk-inspired anglicised Americana music. NEXT TIME AROUND by Forty Elephant Gang is a debut offering of eleven tracks that bins the term potential and delivers a major hit straight from the off.
Guitars and mandolin inspire the sound marshalled by Forty Elephant Gang who use the simple tools at their disposal to craft a mature brand of musicianship, whilst keeping an eager eye on serving up a catchy tune. The album mixes an ideal blend of gentle and rousing moments to give the listener a comprehensive peep into what they have to offer. Whether you are moved by the foot stomping mandolin-driven folk vibes of 'Jealousy' or the country waltz-like feel to 'Young Man's Game' and 'Sweet Marie', the eleven tracks wonderfully cover many bases. Indeed the latter two are an exceptional pairing (though not scheduled together in the running order) with 'Sweet Marie' impressively sprinting out the blocks to be album's premium moment.
You can fully understand why the band have projected opening track 'Songs of Praise' as the key selling point with its catchy qualities and chant-like pull. "I've got an open mind" is a repeated mantra, although I am not too sure about the scratchy bit added to the end. Maybe I should have an open mind! Another track that could have been hauled out of the pile to spread the word far and wide is the delicate contemporary pop song 'Strange Things' complete with a neat hook to attract the crowd.
Elsewhere the album rarely stands still exemplified by the retro stance of 'Hollow Man Blues' complete with a distant crackly sound and poignant social commentary attached to 'Drunken Promise Song'. This track contains one of several moments where the band are not afraid to dip into lengthier instrumental interludes. On a similar instrumental theme, a little cello is detected at the end of 'Light on Water' and some cool mandolin shines brightly on 'Beside You'. The remaining two tracks are the foot tapping ditty 'Better Man' and the short tranquil closer 'Morning Light'.
Forty Elephant Gang are an earthier twist to the nu-folk boom that propelled certain UK roots and acoustic bands to the mainstream around a decade ago. They possess an interesting streak that is as likely to catch the ear of the cool media tastemakers as that of the keen eared blogger. NEXT TIME AROUND may be also a cryptic comment to when the band could really burst open with a ripened acoustic anthem. In the meantime there is comfort in the assertion that they make music that eases between the intimate backroom bar through the heaving concert hall and thriving in the collective force of the festival field.
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