/Rock-Pop/British / European

DE ROSA
prevention

Release Date: 02/03/2009

for those of us fortunate enough to be acquainted with de rosa's 2006 debut 'mend', the wait for album number two has been arduous and seemingly interminable; thirty months is a long time by anyone's standards but given their lead singer's aspirations, it was unlikely that the album was going to be rushed. finally complete and packaged with original artwork by glasgow's literary titan alasdair gray, 'prevention' builds on the promise of their debut and goes some way towards establishing de rosa as one of the most accomplished and (dare we say it) cerebral bands writing today. it's certainly been a long wait, but for many, 'prevention' will be one of the anticipated releases of 2009. de rosa's strengths lie in their ability to fashion unforgettable melodies from unconventional song structures; henry's contemplative, vivid lyrics - often referencing local areas from his native lanarkshire - tend to linger in the memory long after the music has faded, which, given the scarcity of genuinely affecting music nowadays, ought to elevate de rosa to the ranks of scotland's finest songwriters. following the critical acclaim heaped on their debut (one of mojo's albums of 2006), and the drafting in of an additional member, the band set about perfecting their unique blend of urban, parochial folk and angular, twisted guitar lines, enhanced considerably this time round with layers of keyboards and electronica. acoustic guitars are certainly a prominent feature of the album, tracks like 'pest' and 'swell' recalling the melancholic beauty of early neil young, but it's the subtle infusion of drum machines and electronic layering that sets 'prevention' apart: if it is folk, it's a thoroughly modern incarnation with rippling keyboards and syncopated beats as material as the poetically nuanced lyrics. with guest performances from life without building's robert johnson and mogwai's barry burns, 'prevention' is an intensely rewarding and poetic triumph from a band that has resolutely pursued its own unique vision and grown immeasurably in stature as a result.