Album Review: Baby Chaos - "Ape Confronts Cosmos"

 

Back in the mid-'90s, Baby Chaos (along with Kerbdog) seemed to be the perennial support band whenever a Britrock band you liked came to town and I've got memories of seeing them supporting both the Wildhearts and Terrorvision back in the day. After two good but sadly underappreciated albums (1994's Safe Sex, Designer Drugs And The Death Of Rock 'n' Roll and 1996's Love Your Self-Abuse), they were dropped by their record label (EastWest natch) and mutated into the more indie-oriented Deckard for two further albums (again, well worth a listen if you should encounter them) before returning to the Baby Chaos moniker around a decade ago and putting out a more restrained comeback album Skulls Skulls Skulls, Show Me The Glory which sounded more like a reined-in Muse than anything (not necessarily a bad thing mind).

To be honest, it's a bit difficult to listen to the 21st century version of Baby Chaos without thinking of Muse mainly due to the similarity between Chris Gordon's vocals and those of Matt Bellamy but when they do go into this territory such as on Out Of The Blue, You Won, You Won and Run Towards The Roar, at least they sound like a Muse with all the rather silly proggy bits filtered out and the focus turned to simple pounding drums and swooping guitars and it isn't a bad sound at all. It's only on the rather overwrought (and decidedly emo-ly titled) Your Body Is A Nervous Work Of Art that the formula comes slightly unstuck.

However, it's maybe indicative of my age that to these ears Baby Chaos sound their best when they hark back to their '90s sound - The Wild Beast is a real treat as the band cut loose with a loping riff which hits you right between the eyes to good effect. Everything I Counted On Has Been Proved Wrong is almost as good sounding like phuq era Wildhearts and the stark laments of I Belong In Battle, The White Witch and the aching closer Cut Through The Ocean show that they can take the pace down a notch or two to fine effect as well.

Ape Confronts Cosmos solidifies Baby Chaos' reputation as one of the most sadly underrated bands out there and it's good to have them still around. Old fans will find plenty to enjoy here and hopefully it'll win them a few new converts as well.

NITE SONGS RATING: 🌔🌔🌔🌔🌔🌔🌔🌔🌑🌑 (8/10)

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