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Elly Roberts reviews
REGAL
- April 2007
- Rating: 8/10
Loney, dear is the alter ego of Swedish multi-instrumentalist Emil Svanangen.
Holed up for years in his home studio or his parents basement, thisphenomenon has finally unleashed his undeniable talents on the world ofmusic on this his fourth release.
Actually, Loney, dear is a band, though Emil seems to be the brainchild. Inspring 2006 they appeared at the now famous SXSW festival in Austin Texas.Whilst there an impressed Sub Pop A&R man signed them in no time. Theresults are here for all to admire on this enchanting album, which hasshades of Aussie outfit The Sleepy Jackson in terms of the sunny sound(Beach Boys) and, occasional, big production.
Other influences include The Beatles, U2, A-Ha and Depeche Mode, though hismusic is considered by some as soulful indie folk, which is pretty near themark, in a 21Century way.
With its grand opening and high pitched vocal, Sinister In A State Of Hopegently builds up to a flourishing power ballad. Most songs follow that formatin overall composition.
Inevitably, with a voice like his, Saturday Waits has more than a Beach Boysfeel, and its equally as gorgeous as anything that Brian Wilson has recordedin his heyday, and so is the peculiarly titled Hard Days 1,2,3,4,though more of a surfs-up tint and pace.
Beatlesesque I Am The Odd One a semi-sombre ballad eventually glows,as does the follow-up No One Can Win as the ensemble put the foot tothe metal on a massive, and glorious crescendo. Plodding along nicely withsweet melodies and harmonies, I Will Call You Lover Again would surelybreak them here in the UK and Europe.
Carrying A Stone is a Guillemots -meets – The Sleepy Jackson meets -Sufjan Stevens thrust, with pulsating drum beats and add-on instrumentsgiving it a Springsteen big sound. Hushed and gentle The Meter Marks OKfloats beautifully to the support of synths hanging in the background.
Ending a superb album they leave us with synth beats, subliminal sax solos,and, yes, more golden harmonies.
Simply gorgeous.
Catch Loney, dear at Admiral Glasgow on Monday 23 April, Night & Day Manchesteron Tuesday 24, 25 April Water Rats London 25.
Weblinks:loneydear.com /myspace.com/loneydear
The full list of tracks included are :
1. Sinister In A State Of Hope
2. I Am John
3. Saturday Waits
4. Hard Days 1,2,3,4
5. I Am The Odd One
6. No One Can Win
7. I Will Can You Lover Again
8. Carrying A Stone
9. The Meter Marks OK
10. And I Wont Cause Anything At All
Elly Roberts passed away in 2011, but he was a man who was so passionate about all types of music and loved meeting his musical heroes, such as Mick Hucknall at a book signing at the Trafford Centre, Manchester in 2007.
A former teacher and also a music journalist, DJ and radio presenter on local community station Calon FM, plus appearances on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Radio 2, Elly started doing reviews for DVDfever.co.uk in 2004 and he did the majority of the CD and concerts reviews on the website.
I know also that he loved getting away for the summer to Spain and I hope that wherever he is now he is enjoying the hot sunshine and, as one of his friends has said on his Facebook page, that he is interviewing his musical heroes.