An album that opens with the sound of Sean Lennon's Chihuahua barking must have something going for it and , sure enough, this is a fine collection of gentle, understated and honest songs of love, life and brushes with mortality.
The artist known as The Blue Eyed Shark (BES) takes his nickname from a female friend due to the colour of his eyes and his friends calling him a 'shark'. The experimental part of the name apparently refers to the album project itself.
BES's true identity may be hidden but he is open about the life experiences that lie behind his songs. His father died when he was age 8, he had (unspecified) trouble in his teens, suffered broken hearts in the early twenties and to cap it all was diagnosed with cancer (thankfully now removed).
'The Fluffer' is BES's debut album although four tracks (Generation / Sleep Next To Me / Goodbye My Little Friend / Rain) were previously released on the 2009 EP Aun Aprendo (I'm still learning) which was loosely based around the paintings of Goya.
Despite BES's tough breaks in life, the mood of the album remains resolutely optimistic. He says "it's called the Fluffer because I see all music as a form of excitement / entertainment - I'm hoping this will tickle your fancy."
The resolve to look on the bright side doesn't mean he ignores black clouds entirely. The most striking song is Generation where his venom towards a self satisfied individual clearly has a wider application ("It's the sound of a generation so fucked up").
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Optimism is the dominant mood, however, and this is closely linked to affirmations about the need for meaningful human interaction.
'What To Do' deals with The Blue Eyed Shark's cancer scare in a non self pitying manner. To a gentle reggae rhythm he merely poses the question "if you were in my shoes what would you do?". His brush with the grim reaper is also hinted at in the self reflective Rain.
Sleep Next To Me and Beautiful are tender Albarn-esque love songs.
JetPlane, inspired by Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic, is catchy enough to be picked up as a corporate theme tune. The closing track 'Ticket Outta Here' sung to the tune of Glory Glory Hallelujah hints that he may actually on board one of these first space flights.
For the moment his feet are firmly grounded and as the jolly sing along single 'Tapdance' recommends "tap dancing in the rain" as a way to deal with life's curve balls.
Band website
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