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Indie is such a broad term. It’s such a broad term, in fact, that it barely does its job. But that is the same with all genres to a greater or lesser degree; they will always let you down. And an example of this in action can be seen when you drop the needle on the latest album by The New Professionals.
If the opener, “Suit and Tie,” wanders between indie complexities and an almost jangle-pop sweetness, then “Chicago,” which follows, is a busy, bristling, bustling, nu-jazz-infused salvo. Third up is “Alimony” and another whole new direction, this time one of charging rock and roll energies harnessed to indie grooves. The New Professionals definitely make music in the indie realm, but the fact that their first three salvos of this, their sophomore long-player offering, all seem to head out in different directions shows you just how sonically expansive that realm is.
So, just accept that genres are pointless, like the lazy journalists who use them (as a fully paid up member of the lazy, not to mention self-deprecating journalistic profession, I should know) and enjoy the band for what it is.
“Understanding” runs on skittering beats and shimmering guitars and still leaves enough space for melodic bass lines to remain within earshot, “Interlude” is a brilliant exercise in slow-burning, steadily evolving instrumental soundscaping and “Candy From A Baby” is a brilliantly mercurial piece of alt-pop meets quirky rock.
Come Here Creature is an album pushing at the borders of indie music, occasionally bursting through and blending the genre with pop, rock, and myriad other genres. But more than that, it proves one crucial thing. It proves that The New Professionals know how to write great songs. They know how to write at least thirteen of them because they are all here on this album.
