Joe Innes & The Cavalcade – Foreign Domestic Policy

Folk | Indie Rock

64%

With the current tumultuous state of the world, many people are becoming more politically active, and the music world is slowly spreading the message. This new record from Joe Innes & The Cavalcade lives within the same musical realm as the likes of Billy Bragg. Foreign Domestic Policy is the coming together of folk and indie, personal and political, creating a record that tackles the important questions in the world that effect both nations and individuals. The title track and ‘Little Rabbit’ are a scathing satirical critique of the state of modern Britain. Elsewhere within the record sees Joe and the band delve into more conventional pop territory. ‘Moscow’ is a simply gorgeous anthemic ballad, ‘Born To Queue’ is a slick rock’n’roll duet,  while opening track ‘Catelyn’ recalls hints of Dexy’s Midnight Runners, and even The Foundations.

I love what the album tries to do, even if it’s not as effective as it could be. Many of the tracks have very subtle themes that can easily get lost on the listener, and I would rather a few more tracks that wear their heart on their sleeve and drive the point home. There are a few filler tracks, a problem which is made worse by far too many random snippets of half-recorded conversations or little clips from the studio at the end of otherwise great songs. A couple of these kind of moments can give a real air of authenticity, but too many and it becomes rather tiresome. Perhaps this record captures the current state of affairs in way it never meant to. It doesn’t need to be the best at speaking out about the problems with the world, what’s important is that Joe and the band have spoken out regardless, and have done so in such an honest and personal way.