Album Review: Die Hard – Here Goes The Rage

If you’ve ever wondered what Lemon Jelly would sound like if they listened to Super Furry Animals then this album is for you. Die Hard possess a warm fuzzy quality, giving the impression that it was recorded in the bath or underwater. Mostly, it sounds like it’s destined to be used as the incidental music on a Channel 4 sitcom. Its lift music for the 90s generation. Mostly textures and floating vibes, less actual hooks or songs – for example, the song ‘Mmmm’ is a four-minute long collage of different sounds going “mmmm”. Die Hard are trying hard. They have a lot of sounds whirling around, but they don’t have a lot of substance.

They do at least have their hearts in the right place. Built around some psychedelic vocals harmonies and spaghetti western strings, ‘Here Goes The Rage’ is a stirring call to action – “Strange that we all forgot the dream/Blink and you’ll go grey/here goes the rage again.” As a sentiment it’s at least admirable and at most a hugely appealing call to arms. No one likes to think that their best is behind them or that they’ve let their dreams slip through their fingers. It’s a sentiment that would appeal to most and it stands as the highlight of the album. Elsewhere, Die Hard do little to truly endure themselves to the listener.

The big problem with Die Hard is their name. Naming your band after arguably one of the greatest action films ever is a bold move. You’re giving yourself a lot to live up. There’s got to be gunfights, explosions, car chases, the whole shebang. Unfortunately, this Glasgow outfit have failed to live up to their name. There’s no excitement, no drama, no edge of your seat moments. It’s more Sleepless In Seattle. Yippee-ki-yay, motherfucker

- David Pottnegrine