If you know any demographers, ask them which city is the geographical
centre of Great Britain's population and they will tell you, after a short
time, that it is, more or less, Coventry. It is also the home of the Lady
Godiva story, seventies two-tone pioneers The Specials and, most recently,
the Enemy who, in the shadow of 2007's all-conquering and platinum-selling
We Live and Die in These Towns are set to release their second studio album,
Music For The People, in April. They may look like an angry McFly, but
given the Enemy's talent for the anarchic post-punk anthem and perhaps
their geographical advantage, based as they are in the heart of the nation,
the title suggests another timely injection of angst and disillusionment
straight into the national psyche during these unpredictable and challenging
times.
Like lead singer Tom Clarke, the set is short and noisy, barely passing
the hour mark, including mandatory encore. This allows just enough time
for the skilful performance of the whole of the first album, with only
a glimpse of the new material. In interviews, Tom has spoken of The Enemy's
'new sound' but it is difficult to discern as the new tracks including
the soon-to-be-released No Time For Tears sit unremarkably, if comfortably,
between established favourites such as It's Not OK and Aggro. Prior to
their explosion into public awareness in 2007, these three talented musicians
were supporting the Manic Street Preachers on a UK small venue tour. At
that time, free from new-album advances and (hard earned) royalties, the
band relied only on the energetic and passionate delivery of their middle-England
message and it was really very impressive. No bells, no whistles; just
fast-paced and engaging tunes that spoke of disenchant and societal indifference.
Fast-forward two years and the Academy shows form part of an extremely
thorough UK tour and Manchester is surely not alone in identifying with
the Enemy's recessionist symbolism; evoking not just the punk sounds of
the early eighties but also the mood of the times. This Song and the rousing
finale, You're Not Alone, invite impassioned and escapist singalongs and,
for a moment, the band connect beautifully with their fans, their people.
If Music For The People takes up where We Live and Die... left off, then
surely 2009 will be an open goal for these talented upstarts from the heartlands
of a nation in trouble. However, if the new sound strays too far from their
roots, and it may, then the band could yet find their new offering filed
under Difficult Second Album. The glint in Tom Clarke's eyes suggests it
will be the former. Doubters beware.