It’s difficult to tell whether Supergrass’ shift into gentler soundwaves is a conscious attempt to counter their simian psych-punk associations laid to rest at ‘Supergrass Is 10’ or a simple sign that they’re drifting into calmer karma after a decade of sweating, gurning and playing like they’d written their back catalogue the day previously. But whilst Road To Rouen has some moments that aren’t so much acoustically whimsical as just plain bland, Fin is proof that they are still capable of stealing hearts, just not by particularly energetic means (or ways that would be frowned upon in the medical profession).
Guitars chime, gurgle and float away, beats crackle and flicker so as not to spoil the ambience around them, and Gaz’s vocals warble like we’re only hearing the echo. Indeed, the whole thing bobs and weaves so softly that it’s as if it’s being played through the ripples in a stream, a velveteen sonic swirl that both soothes and entrances. Or, if you like, the sound of Choppers rusting (so to speak). Whether they'll continue to create this sort of soft-rock remains to be seen of course, as such referencing of everything between Cocteau Twins and 10cc's 'I'm Not In Love' could presumably becoming tiresome rather quickly. But for now, in a collected and cooing sort of way, they seem to have pulled it off.
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7Thomas Blatchford's Score