Track Review: The Maccabees – Marks To Prove It

The Maccabees’ 2007 debut LP ‘Colour It In’ is the sort of album that could easily be misinterpreted. At the time of its release, some were too quick to confine it to the bracket of “indie landfill”; the kind of straight-forward guitar music that was still in control of the radio waves back in ’07, and that most listeners had heard more of than enough before.

However, critics and fans alike soon came to realise that there was something different about The Maccabees. There was a subtle, understated intelligence behind the likes of ‘First Love’, ‘Toothpaste Kisses’, ‘Precious Time’ and more – all exuded an undeniable charm, as well as an infectious nature. This likeability, coupled with Orlando Weeks’ unique voice, proved that The Maccabees were more than just London lads with guitars.

 ‘Marks To Prove It’ seems to be an amalgamation of all of the band’s previous work

Subsequently, 2009’s follow-up, ‘Wall Of Arms’, was greeted with the praise that it deserved: a textured album packed with intense tunes that combined striking depth with memorable hooks. Perhaps most impressive, however, was that the five-piece were able to better themselves yet again with the highlight of their career thus far in 2012’s ‘Given To The Wild’. Artistic and measured from start to finish, the record carried less obvious singles than its predecessors (with the exception of the instantaneous ‘Pelican’), but its strengths lay in its cohesiveness, its ebb and flow, and its nature as a vessel for the band to explore sonic ground that would have seemed unimaginable when listening to ‘Colour It In’ for the first time.

The reason for giving this background is that it may explain expectations of The Maccabees’ direction for their upcoming, as-yet-untitled album. On the announcement of lead single, ‘Marks To Prove It’, many naturally expected a continuation of the deep, ambient sound that enabled ‘Given To The Wild’ to flourish. With this track, however, The Maccabees have complicated things a little.

 Chugging bass, direct drums, and scratchy guitar convey youthful urgency

The nature of the song is hard to pin down. Perhaps the best description to offer is that ‘Marks To Prove It’ seems to be an amalgamation of all of the band’s previous work. Initially, the instrumentation reflects The Maccabees circa 2007 – chugging bass, direct drums, and scratchy guitar convey some of the youthful urgency that partially defined that time in the band’s career – before a repetitious hook and jagged vocal melody exhibit some of the intensity that made The Maccabees’ sophomore effort so compelling. Later, ethereal backing vocals and the effective introduction of soaring synth make for something reminiscent of a ‘Given To The Wild’ cut; as does the unexpected dynamic shift in time signature and feel following the first chorus, with this formula repeated at the end of the song.

It is almost as if the band is taking us on a retrospective tour of their musical exploits to date, to remind us what they’re all about before their impending fourth LP drops. All in all, it is an enjoyable journey, and the track – whilst somewhat difficult to figure out at first – proves to be a true ear-worm with multiple listens. That is never a bad thing, especially on a lead single, and, if The Maccabees offer more of the same in the upcoming months, it is safe to say that few will be disappointed.