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DVDfever.co.uk – Reverend And The Makers: A French Kiss In The Chaos CD reviewElly Roberts reviews
Wall Of Sound Records
- Released: July 2009
- Rating: 6/10
- Vote and comment on this album:View Comments
A chum of Arctic Monkeyss Alex Turner,the Reverends Jon McClure has learnt much from his buddy about expanding his musical soundscapes.
French Kiss… is a heady brew of out -and -out -Brit Pop nostalgia and occasional quaint folkiness, with a keen attention to detail in the production department.
For some time now, McClure has threatened retirement, probably at the lack of commercial success, especially when you consider his age, 28. Well just have to wait, eh? Clearly, McClure is an intelligent guy (a degree in politics from Sheffield University) he previously pondered doomed personal relationships and nights on the town. Now hes shifted his attention to more serious and pressing matters – environmentalist and social cum political commentator.
Also, theres a distinct lack of imagination (hes on difficult second album remember) when you have to resort to sampling an old Latin funk classic Wars Low Rider for your opening gambit. Having said that it works well, elevating it to the realms of indie party pleaser with a touch anarchic psychedelia.
Hidden Persuaders, although an original song, gives a nod to 60s troubadours Love (check the Latino flavoured brass) or even dare I say it, towards Alex Turners side show The Last Shadow Puppets, and to some degree on follower No Wood Just Trees.
For Long Long Time, a plodding piano ballad he declared he wrote at a low point but isnt any more, after alleged death threats and lack of critical acclaim. Theres more of an Oasis thing going on here, maybe too much so, for an artist seeking to make something artistically interesting.On the serious political, front hes done an anti-BNP song Manifesto / People Shapers I dont want your propaganda or your leaflet through my door /It seems that your friend hatred just dont live here anymore and so on.
Sonically things go more upbeat and danceable on the whopping Mermaids, though theres a retro Brit Pop shadow looming over it, whereas The End has flavours of 70s new wave-punk from the likes of The Stranglers a hard driving beat and chunky bassline throbbing all the way.Ending on a depressing note ( or romantic depending on your disposition) Hard Time For Dreamers veers towards an apocalyptic scenario nukes and rising water levels propelled my a mighty and ominous musical rollercoaster.
The verdict Interesting yes, impressive no.
Weblinks:iamreverend.com / myspace.com/reverendmusic
The full list of tracks included are :
1. Silence Is Talking
2. Hidden Persuaders
3. No Wood Just Trees
4. Professor Pickles
5. Long Long Time
6. No Soap In A Dirty War
7. Manifesto / People Shapers
8. Mermaids
9. The End
10. Hard Time For DreamersView the discussion thread.blog comments powered by Disqus= 0) {query += ‘url’ + i + ‘=’ + encodeURIComponent(links[i].href) + ‘&’;}}document.write(”);})();//]]]]>]]>
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.