Detroit based trio Royal Hoax are an interesting proposition. Their first full length hits the shores of the UK on March 25th, and it’s a mish-mash of ideas and genres that oozes energy. Lead track ‘Shiver Shake’ does a really good job of summing up the band in part – it’s upbeat, fun, catchy, and the video is an inventive mickey take of ‘flashmobbing’ – but that’s only half the story.
Not all of their songs are as upbeat and positive in their sound. Opener ‘Watch Me Walk’ is more about the rhythmic guitar and drum lines that link excellently, with a punk feel to the vocal that harkens back to the 80s movement. Meanwhile, ‘Streets of Chicago’ is slower, more contemplative account of a breakup in the Illinois city. It has a more urban feel, another example of how the tone and feel change regularly throughout the LP.
It’s a versatile approach that makes this talented group difficult to pin down. Still, there’s plenty here to get your ears around, and it whets the appetite for the next LP – it’ll be interesting to see whether there’s a more settled approach next time around, or whether Royal Hoax will stick to their varied approach.