Howling Bells - Digital Hearts (Independiente Records)

Having lost their vaguely sinister, haunting edge from the days of 'Wishing Stone' this new release from Howling Bells smacks of forced compromise for mass commercial appeal.

Juanita has softened her growls and the repetitive drone of the tune itself soon grows about as stale as a pack of Jaffa Cakes left out on the kitchen counter for a week. Happier they may well be, but this contentment does not seem to be convivial with musical innovation and expression.

Apparently taking more of a collaborative tack with songs off their latest album, Radio Wars, it is easy to think that they would have been better off if Juanita had locked herself in a darkened room with a broken heart again and written her pain into the music.

Taking inspiration from battles with the car radio in an old Ute they drove around Victoria, 'Digital Hearts' claims to be about struggles between technology and humans but might be taken as symbolic of how Howling Bells have fought for egalitarian creative control, perhaps to their detriment.

You can tell that summer is on its way as this tune undulates with singalong sunshine filled peaks that will seem exciting at festivals after drinking half the bar dry, but that don't quite stand up in the privacy of your own bedroom.

Rating: 2/5

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Artist: Howling Bells Title: Radio Wars Released: 28/07/2009 Buy Now \| View Details	Artist: Howling Bells Title: Howling Bells Released: 03/07/2006 Buy Now \| View Details

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