Snowden - "No One In Control"

After a long wait of over a decade, Snowden finally returns today with their highly-anticipated new album, No One In Control, released via Kings Of Leon’s imprint, Serpents & Snakes.  Messy legal and label woes for frontman Jordan Jeffares led to the lengthy hiatus and while a lot has changed in the music scene over the last six years; luckily Snowden hasn’t changed much since their excellent 2006 Jade Tree Records debut, Anti-Anti.  Their nuanced, beat-driven brand of electro-rock with its hazy synths remains just as moody, catchy and danceable as ever.   

The haunting opening track, “No One In Control” builds gradually over its seven minute running time with hypnotic distorted keyboards that float over a pounding and clicking drum beat as singer Jordan Jeffares’ gloomy, emotional vocals provide the weight.  The infectious “So Red” follows and is built upon a hip-shaking tribal beat, a sing-along vocal chant and chiming synths.  And much like the best songs on Anti-Anti, Jordan’s rhythmic vocal phrasing propels the song just as much as the actual beat and the atmospheric standout track; “Anemone Arms” is a prime example.  The club-ready single, “The Beat Comes” opens gently with acoustic guitars and rafters-reaching organ before breaking loose with a shuffling rhythm.  Another standout track “Don’t Really Know Me” features ambient washes of reverb-rich guitars and a twitchy beat as well as a catchy self-depreciating chorus.  Also included is a dark and romantic cover of “No Words No More” by Love And Rockets.  Closing out the eleven track album is the bittersweet “This Year”, with its cascading guitars and echoing background vocals. 

The wait was well worth it, as Snowden has delivered the post-punk meets synth-pop goods with their long-awaited sophomore album, No One In Control.

Download “The Beat Comes” here: http://soundcloud.com/snowdenofficial/the-beat-comes       

For more info: http://www.snowden.info/blog/ and http://www.sandsrecords.com/