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Cross Wires: Under The Watchful Eye Of Another Man’s God
(Self-released)
Vinyl | Download | Streaming
Out now
For those who make it that far, the third album is often considered a defining milestone. With Under The Watchful Eye Of Another Man’s God, east London’s Cross Wires prove they have the maturity, intelligence and drive to create something even more powerful and provocative than what has gone before. Robin Boardman reviews.
To say Cross Wires lyricist and vocalist Jonathan Chapman feels ill at ease with the world we live in would be an understatement, and Under The Watchful Eye Of Another Man’s God is effectively a concept album which explains exactly why this is and, in the process, displays an intensity and lucidity that makes you sit up and notice. The band explain, “The album exists in a world where misinformation spreads faster than facts. A world where certainty often triumphs over evidence and belief itself can become a weapon – lyrically taking aim at manipulation, blind faith and the fragile nature of truth in the modern world.” The foreboding diatribes are perfectly realised through the medium of the relentless post-punk pounding of Matt Lazard’s bass and Ian Clarke’s drums, Peter Muller’s edgy, urgent guitar work and Chapman’s broodingly expressive vocals.
But despite the compellingly forceful rhetoric, Cross Wires never simply resort to bludgeoning the listener over the head with a blunt instrument. Indeed, the album kicks off as a slow-burner with The Church providing a deceptively calm but distinctly eerie opening, followed by the sparse, dub-tinged Welcome To The Party. Ezekiel is heartbreakingly poignant as it questions the viability of faith in a world which can so easily visit tragedy upon the innocent:
David lost faith today and as they took Laura’s body away,
He screamed, “Lord, why do you hurt me so?
I live a life of devotion. Spreading your holy word.
You’ve taken away an angel. Taken my whole world.”
Our New Life By The Sea is a melancholically atmospheric departure from the wider issues, examining the disintegration of a relationship from the perspective of both parties and featuring an emotive guest vocal from Victoria Baker. Album closer, Echo Forever, is an ethereal and thought-provoking song with echoes of 80s electronica.
For the most part, however, Under The Watchful Eye of Another Man’s God tackles the ills of the world in uncompromising fashion. Preachers pours scorn on social media-driven conspiracy theories and, continuing the theme of indoctrination, the angular Jimmy Says (possibly referencing Jonestown or 28 Years Later – take your pick) is a harrowing examination of unscrupulous cults. Chapman himself ironically adopts all the fervour of a preacher as he delivers Believers – a contemptuous conflation of religion and superstition, the crutches we use to avoid facing up to reality:
Do you believe in the power of prayer?
The sick child raised from the deathbed,
The palm reader who promised you love was on its way,
The seance where you heard a loved one speak from beyond the grave?
Aided by Rory Attwell’s imaginative production, there are also all sorts of musical twists, turns and references: the Rocky Horror swing / scary distortion of Return Of The Living Dead, the caustic Mark E Smith-esque chorus of All Things To All Animals, and the creative use of samples, keys, effects and backing vocals, to name but a few. And while this frequently disturbing album is far from easy listening, it is thoroughly engaging, challenging and provocative throughout. With Under The Watchful Eye of Another Man’s God, Cross Wires gift us an album for the age – a timely warning against complacency, gullibility and ignorance to entertain us on our inexorable march towards oblivion..
Cross Wires Links: Facebook | X | Soundcloud | Spotify | Instagram
All words by Robin Boardman. More writing from Robin for Louder Than War can be found at his author’s archive.
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