Single Reviews - Jun 07

Words - Suzy Sims
Previously published on Native.tv http://www.native.tv in June 2007
(c) Niche News & Publishing Ltd


Aqualung - Cinderella
Epic / Sony BMG, 11th June 2007

Soft tinkles herald the start of 'Cinderella', then a giant rainbow of an entrance, swooping and flying along. Sounds like he's singing underwater with a helmet on. There are all dramatic pianos and giant crashing boulders of beats. As the music turns angsty and powerful, operatic angelic ooohs fill the song.

And I just discovered Mr Aqualung (Matt Hales) is from Southampton, so he's practically a neighbour (give or take ten miles or so).Full of life and sections, it's juicy and powerful. A modern power ballad perhaps... It's taken from album 'Memory Man', out now.

Aqualung

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The Bees - Listening Man
Virgin Records, 11th June 2007

The Bees are from the Isle of Wight, and we have a feeling we caught them at the festival a couple of years ago. Skip to the present, and here's 'Listening Man'. Laidback, jazzy and with a beautifully quaint feeling to it. This song is one which literally drips summer heat.

B-side 'I Still Got Your Number' is a old-fashioned, piano-slapping and guitar-sliding singalong which bobs along aided by Beach Boys-style harmonies. Both songs have a sense of charm and peace to them, which is quite sweet really.

The Bees

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Crowded House - Don't Stop Now
Parlophone, 25th June 2007

Now I don't know a lot about Crowded House, except that they can probably afford even less room space nowadays, property prices being as they are. Ho ho hum.

First thoughts - gentle. Oh, someone's borrowed their kid's glockenspiel while someone else is wielding a battered guitar. "Another pleasant day in the countryside / has ended up in tears on a stormy night / cos you can't follow my directions home." They've obviously been on one or two trips in my car, I can tell ya. It's all very nice. You get the feeling this lot don't ever get angry with anyone, they'd just go 'Oh, you shouldn't do that', then smile nicely and give you a cake.

Although writing a song about your sat-nav leading you astray is very cutting edge indeed, the song has something old-fashioned and familiar to it. It builds up to a near thunder, but there's nothing threatening or offensive about it. It's gentle and typical Crowded House.

Crowded House

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Gareth Gates - Angel On My Shoulder
19 / Universal, 18th June 2007

Imagine you’re dressed in flowing robes/dress and are running down a corridor in slow motion. Now you pause to look at your tear-stained face in a mirror and catch sight of your torn clothes. Perhaps you brush some hair out your eyes, and carry on. Still in slow motion of course. No, you’re not Bonnie Tyler. If you had any sense you would have put this on the CD player to accompany and indulge your miserable flight.

‘There’s an angel on my shoulder making sure I’m all right’. Mournful pop with a delicate plinkyness rising and descending. As far as dramatic pop ballads go, it’s quite sweet and although it probably appeals to emotional mums and over-excited teens rather than sweaty indie kids, I didn’t dislike it.

Gareth Gates

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The Knife - Heartbeats
Brille, 25th June 2007

'Heartbeats' is said to be considered 'one of the most influential electronic pop records of the past few years'. This live version was recorded in Gothenburg. There's still the dripping icicle synths and depressing bassline with kooky vocals telling the sad tale of heartbreak over the top, but there's something lost in this live version. It's still a beautiful song on its own right though. It's like a stunning piece of glass, all shines and jagged edges, and one you have to handle carefully for fear of dropping it. Who cares what's in fashion musically when this is sweetly and painfully tottering along?

The Knife

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The Levellers - What A Beautiful Day
Rhino, digital only, 25th June 2007

‘What a beautiful day / I’m the king of all time.’ Was this really released ten years ago? I still have it on a compilation CD I bought, along with other '97 classics Bentley’s Rhythm Ace ‘Bentley’s Gonna Sort You Out’, PF Project 'Choose Life', Bran Van 3000 ‘Drinking In LA’, Fat Les ‘Vindaloo’ (erm…) and all that jazz on it. The arse-end of Britpop was still kicking about, with everybody’s new albums darker and less easy to get into (Pulp, et al).

How does 'What A Beautiful Day' fare? Still very evocative, sweetly plaintive and slightly aching. It’s one of those songs that was full of reminiscing when released, meaning it couldn’t date and rendering it timeless. The violin still brings a little folky, teenage tear to our eye and vocalist Mark Chadwick's reedy vocals still waver.

‘And nothing is impossible in my all-powerful mind’. I’m daydreaming now, and I’m just going to give this five stars for being the best damn thing that Levellers ever did (though as it’s actually the only thing of theirs I know, I’m no expert on the matter). As five albums are being reissued on July 2nd, now's the time to find out some more about them.

Incidentally, one of our designers once managed the incredible task of being thrown out of a Levellers gig. He was crowdsurfing...!

Levellers