This is PATRICK CLEANDENIM'S third studio album in four years and he will be supporting The Drums on dates in America so perhaps his star is ascendant? Certainly with the energy of New York City behind him it would be hard not to fail. That’s an awful lot of power.
The album starts well although a little clichéd. A tuning through the radio intro flows into the riff of Stone Cold Crazy Love. It’s a catchy number and sets the tone for everything that follows. Classic songwriting, good musicianship, well produced and very ‘authentic’. By that I mean if it didn’t cost a lot to put together then the guy certainly had access to expensive things i.e antique mics, a good studio and maybe even an antique engineer or two! Who knows, anyway, Radio Heartbreak would make a good single. Even the title is studied. It actually reminds me of Kung Fu Fighting and I seem to remember that doing quite well. It also includes the first of many references to women and their clothing. “In your little black boots/in your little red scarf/in your little black skirt/or your little red socks”. At least it gets me wondering, as I do throughout the album, is this one woman in particular or a multitude? It also brings some much needed colour to proceedings.
Fish On The Sand has a touch of 50’s rock and roll to it with an emphasis on piano/keyboard. In My Baby’s Eyes has a percussive 70’s rhythm underpinning it and again would make a good single as love songs often do. Even I is where the album finds its mojo for me. It’s a ballad but the vocals sit nicely in the mix and it doesn’t sound as contrived as some of the other tracks. It has a natural and unhurried vibe to it. Crazy In The Night follows but I think I would rather listen to Kiss go crazy in the night thanks. Something More Than Love tumbles along on tribal tom toms and splash cymbals. “Something more than four in the morning’s when I come alive” makes for a good chorus. I am starting to get a Steely Dan vibe off this album which is all good. Satellite does not work for me which just leaves Guessing Game and that is just more tumbling tom toms and classic valve riffage.
|
My problem with this album is that it is too reliant on its influences and never once attempts to challenge them and nor does it better them in any way. Having said that I doubt that is the intention and I am sure it will do quite well.
|
