Afraid To Dance is an appropriate title for the latest release from Italian group Port-Royal. Wikipedia (one of the most accurate websites on the internet) has the group listed under ‘Rock’, however upon stumbling across Afraid To Dance this is further from the truth and it seems if these guys were of the rock-genre they are definitely ‘Afraid To Dance’ to their new found sound. Not that you can really dance to rock that easily anyway.

Bahnhoff Zoo, opens the album with layers upon layers of swirling guitars over an electronic ambient drum beat with a haunting piano. It sets the mood for what will become an album full of rich, luscious layering and airy ambience with not a heck of a lot to say.

Track three on the album Anya adds further fuel to the fire regarding the title Afraid To Dance. The track rocks out with a nice techno drum feel along with some sexy swirling guitars gliding over the top. However, those very guitars add a haunting feel to it. As if to say “You could dance to the beat of this and go on.. try! But we know you won’t be able to”. The beat attracts you but it doesn’t get you enough to shake you. And to be honest, just sitting there listening to the album is a good enough thing.

Which is one problem with this album, it seems to be overly pretentious and overbearing at times. Some of the songs work terrifically and other times they just seem to get lost in their own wall of sound and over the top mish mash. Pauline Bokour seems to be the best example of this with a non-comprehendible sound swirling through your speakers for 2 minutes. It would sound great in a 1980s C-Grade horror movie but on an album like this it just seems out of place.

The last half of this album seems to be where the real gems come out and the real ambient sounds of this album seem to shine. Riga Timmerman is up beat and feel good. Internet Love sounds like something you’d hear playing over the speakers at a coffee-shop for up-market yuppies. Or maybe even an internet café? Putin vs Valery sounds like you’re floating through a cloud, with its lush instrumentals with a quite full on trance drum beat underneath.

Port-Royal are showing off some fantastic compositions with this latest release. While it does seem a bit slow and flowing at times, the album backs out of the misty, cloudy sound at times and gives off some glowing sunshine. Definitely can’t go wrong with checking out Afraid To Dance if you’re the laid-back, ambient music lover.