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Bathgate might be going down a storm in his native Ann Arbor in Washtenaw
County, Michigan, but it looks like he’s destined to be a parochial artist.
Trying to crack the UK market with an album like this is nigh on impossible.
In the US, it may fair better, but I doubt it somehow.
With the majority of the songs taking a sombre tone, coming across as kind of
amateurish and uninspiring. There’s little here to grab the UK imagination,
though you can never tell. Look what happened to Daniel Powter with single Bad Day.
One minute I’m resigning the album to the virtual scrapheap, and next thing the
single hits the top 10.
Things are vastly different here though, with little, if any, opportunity of songs
getting airplay, via the likes of BBC Radio 2, which has a big hand in breaking
most US acts right now. One major drawback is Bathgate’s monotonous singing,
plus the brooding and bleak template that’s sustained throughout. With
Serpentine it bodes well, in a low key way, with hints of the masterful
Ben Folds, as the keys clunk away in a tuneful manner, but things become very
morose very quickly on The Last Parade,using a stripped back approach:
voice and acoustic guitar, though mid-course it changes dramatically with a
fuller sound only to cool off to the close.
Packing a punch, Every Wall You Own is more interesting to begin with
but lacks the legs to make a significant track, though his voice becomes slightly
more ‘folky’, and works better.
Thankfully, despite the continuing melancholy, Madison House proves the best
of the bunch while Bathgate plucks tunefully at his acoustic guitar and Brennan
Andes adds sublime bass. Next two, Cold Fusion and A Flash Of Light
pass by unnoticed, whereas Restless sparkles, bringing back memories of
something from Beirut’s magnificent Flying Cup Club. Some cool brass and funky beats.
By track 11, it’s all become a bit tiresome and predictable, and so, he finally
goes out on a whimper with tedious Coda.
Damien Rice does ‘depressing’ brilliantly. Chris Bathgate has a lot to learn from
him.
1. Serpentine
2. The Last Parade On Ann St.
3. Every Wall You Own
4. Smiles Like A Fist
5. Madison House
6. Cold Fusion (Snakes)
7. A Flash Of Light Followed By
8. Restless
9. The Last Wine Of Winter
10. Do What’s Easy
11. Coda
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Review & concert pics copyright © Elly Roberts, 2004-2010.