Music Under Fire

Hailing from Bournemouth, England, Air Traffic brings a certain air about them and their music. The group claims existence from an area self-proclaimed as barren of “rock heritage” but their music argues differently. The release of Fractured Life must have been the music child Bournemouth didn’t expect.

Compiled of four sub-25 year-old members, Chris Wall (lead vocals), David Jordan (drums), Tom Prichard (guitar) and Jim Maddock (bass), Air Traffic arrived on the music scene in 2005 with an equal mixture of rock talent and influence. After several months of studying and sporadic recordings in London, the group began piecing together Fractured Life with producer David Kosten and his label, Tiny Consumer. The final result of their work together was an album with odd, yet meaningful, transitions and some spunk that should set them apart from copycat groups.

Fractured Life should place Air Traffic into a noteworthy notch on the English rock scene sheet as they shy away from repetitive track transitions that can lose a first-time listener. This free-flowing conglomeration of songs could be seen as a thorn to an album but Air Traffic uses a personal touch of sentiment and personality from track to track to not only keep a first-timer in tune but also engulfed from start to finish. An example of this uncanny transition is first noticeable in “Charlotte” at track two and “Shooting Star” at track three. What happened here? Air Traffic shifted from a ‘box’ rock feel to a solo-sounding compilation. Their energetic electric guitar and fast-paced drum flips over to an individually performed set, like “Constantine” from Something Corporate, then changes into a head-bobbing piano-centered jam, like “Clocks” from Coldplay. This lively alteration is just an example of the unique flow Fractured Life has.

Beyond the unnatural flow of the album, Fractured Life marches on with what could be considered songs influenced by other artists. Although a long shot from the alternative, “I Can’t Understand”, uses chords from “A Day In the Life” by the Beatles as well as the long-winded vocal range Alanis Morissette uses.

The originality in Fractured Life stretches further than conventional comparisons to other artists though, as their soft rock to body-swaying style swings to the effect that any reference to another artist is nothing but short lived. Like the style shift from “Charlotte” to “Shooting Star”, the rest of album ranges from compassionate solos to joy-ride rock anthem. Air Traffic purposely did which is why these ups and downs help turn Fractured Life into something better.

Picking the top track listings for Fractured Life doesn’t bode well for listeners headstrong on finding that song to request on the radio. Every song has its own niche in the album, although some evoke more deep down emotion ("Empty Space") than others due to their stoic composure while others push the limits with their garage band rock energy ("Get in Line"). The problem with this constant transition in the album then lies in the lack of a true number one song. Every song somehow leans on the emotional buildup from the previous track, yet many of the tracks are able to stand alone. The U.S. release includes the new opener "Come On". The addtion of this new track builds into the rest of the album through an almost pounded piano and rock intro sound.

Another drawback from Fractured Life lies with the softer rock songs midway through the album. “No More Running Away” and “Empty Space” put a gap midway through. Although well written and executed, the style slows the album down to point that you would think that this wasn’t a four-man band.

Fractured Life could be one of the most complete albums I heard in 2007, such as Best Worst-Case Scenario from Fair in 2006. The transition is unusually appealing and the tracks are memorable. The once-rockless town of Bournemouth can now rock on.

Fractured Life

1. Come On (buy)
2. Charlotte (buy)
3. Just Abuse Me (buy)
4. Shooting Star (buy)
5. No More Running Away (buy)
6. Empty Space (buy)
7. Time Goes By (buy)
8. I Like That (buy)
9. Never Even Told Me Her Name (buy)
10. Get In Line (buy)
11. I Can't Understand (buy)
12. Your Fractured Life (buy)

13. Pee Wee Martini (buy)