Unlikely Rock Shock.

I will say this now: for my money, Subtle are one of the most important bands around right now, and For Hero: For Fool is an absolutely stunning album that belongs in all those Top Ten Albums That Kick The Arse Of Everything lists that appear regularly in music publications, online and off. Its successor, ExitingARM, is less immediate, but as rewarding; a densely layered pseudo-pop album, combining winning hooks with intense delivery of complex, abstract lyrics.



After initial listens reeled me in with memorable choruses, massive percussion tracks and Doseone's sweet falsetto, further visits to Subtle's twisted subliminal realm revealed wondrous treasures. ExitingARM is bulging with ideas and sounds, a rich fabric woven in distant percussion, chiming synths and distorted whispers; layers as varied and harmonious as the machinegun raps and sung melodies that criss-cross the insistant beats. Even on "The Crow", perhaps the most sedate song here, the sense of urgency is palpable in the thump of the rhythm and the number of vocal tracks demanding your attention.

Subtle are urgent, and they do demand your attention. Every adrenaline-charged, sweat-drenched, multi-faceted song is a painstakingly crafted rallying cry to the listener; "this is how a pop record should sound in 2008!".

Subtle - Sick Soft Perfection
Subtle - The No