The Research: Breaking Up

Elly Roberts reviews

The Research: Breaking UpDistributed by
At Large Recordings

• Cat.no: FUGITLP2CD
• Released: February 2006
• Rating: 10/10

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The Magic Numbers have serious competition. The Researchfrom Wakefield Yorkshire, is a cracking new trio who can match them inevery department.

Two girls, bassist and multi-instrumentalist Georgia Lashbrook, elfin-likedrummer Sarah Williams and a bloke called Russell ‘The Disaster’ Searle – amake a ‘DIY’ and rather charming album.

Using a £9 rickety keyboard,apparently bought at Cash Converters, Russell and co have made an albumconsisting of old-fashioned pop songs with a genuine organic feel, partlycreated by producer John McEntire (Stereolab / Teenage Fanclub) in Chicago,who favours simplistic methods such a getting the right mics in front ofdrums etc.

Strangely, the music flourishes in contrast with the bitter sweetlyrics – mostly referring to the ups and downs about the old ‘love game’.Swinging from love to break-ups, it bounces along beautifully. It feels likeanyone could have done this album, but would they dare to? Probably not.

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In many ways it’s overloaded with lush three-part harmonies, and ‘humable’tunes, a nod to Russell’s ‘songbook’ faves like The Beach Boys, The Beatlesand the Motown generation. These influences are focussed on True Love, C’monChameleon and Lonely Hearts – their debut single.

Instrumentally, it’s asdirect as the superbly crafted songs, which would make most radio playlists(except for the odd swearing, which is a shame and totally unnecessary).

Crowning a magnificent debut, they leave us with a glorious a capella onSplitting Hairs. Despite these influences, it doesn’t become an obvioustribute to the 60’s: it’s great songwriting for the 21 century, and greatlywelcomed. Surely, one of the best pop albums of 2006, and should berecognised as such.

Single – Lonely Hearts (Still Beat The Same) is out Monday 13 February.

Weblink:The Research Go Pop.com

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The full list of tracks included are :

1. The Way You Used To Smile
2. I Love You, But…
3. True Love Weighs A Tonne
4. C’mon Chameleon
5. We’ve Got Something
6. Ba Ba Ba
7. Love Me Tender
8. Lonely Hearts Still Beat The Same
9. She’s Not Leaving
10. Too Young
11. I Bet If We Kissed
12. I Say “ Yeh Yeh”
13. When You Get Home
14. Splitting Hairs

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