Bond // Play

 Buy @ CDJapan (Regular) | Buy @ CDJapan (Limited)
Buy @ YesAsia.com

Ten years ago, a quartet appeared on the music scene that was classed as too classical to be pop and too pop to be classical. Since then, they've toured across the world, appeared in films and sold countless albums.

Now, in time for their tenth anniversary and with a slight line up change, the original string quartet, Bond release their new album, Play.

First up, is brand new song, Diablo which sets the scene for the rest of the album, a rock sound on instruments better known for the classical or movie score use. Jai Ho is a cover of that well known Pussycat Dolls track (and appeared in Slumdog Millionaire) whilst Elysium sounds as if it's a variation of the good old Doctor Who theme. Pump It (yes the Black Eyed Peas tune) is up next and something tells you that it probably shouldn't work, but it does.

Following this is Beatroot, the shortest track on the album, but with what seems Russian influences, meaning a good beat to tap your feet along to. Another cover, although it is named Last Time (probably better known as The Verve's Bittersweet Symphony) works well seeing as the original did have a string section to it.

Coming up after this is two of Vivaldi's Four Season's Summer and Winter, which of course fans will recall the group recorded all four seasons as promotion for Pegueot's 208 cabriolet, a car for all seasons. There is some variation in the tracks here compared to freebie downloads. Apasionada springs from the cold ending into a Spanish/Latino sound track, almost perfect for salsa.

West With The Night harks back to the sounds of opening track Diablo with reminders of times from the past (it most reminds us of Explosive from the Classified album) whilst Road To Samarkand has a feeling of Indian or Asian influences. The next track needs no introduction, as it is purely a brand new version of quite possible on of their most well known songs, Victory (known here as Victory 10). The final track of the a 'remix' of Diablo with rapping from Young Offenders.

On the Asian versions of the album, there is a bonus track called Bond Goes Gaga which is a well fitting medley of the eccentic singer's songs (in performed order Born This Way, Poker Face, Bad Romance & Judas)

Overall, it's nice to see Bond back on the scene after such an absecence. However, it can't be helped that it feels like there is something missing from this album. The inclusion of covers of 'pop' songs, feels like there's two big fingers being stuck up at another string quartet (we're pretty sure you know who we mean!)as if to say, anything you can do, we can do better. There's a bit more vocal inclusion on the tracks, which, in some instances, draws away from what Bond are, a string quartet, instrumentalists. This album, could be like Marmite; you either like it or hate it.

No word on a UK release yet, but already available in Mexico, Japan & Korea!

Rating: 3.5/5