Tuesday 17 July 2012

Stop! - Sam Brown

If glossy production was one of the mainstays of 1980s music then an other, one that really takes you back to a time of day-glo leg warmers, is a guest appearance by David Gilmour. Yup, Pink Floyd's guitarist was everywhere - adding his trademark screeches to seemingly any album of people he'd met. Or bumped into in the corridor on the way to the canteen. He popped up on Paul McCartney's 'No More Lonely Nights', on Kate Bush's 'Love and Anger', on Kirsty MacColl's 'Kite' and is all over this album. Perhaps he wanted to break into the pop market or maybe he was just bored?

Now don't get me wrong, I'm quite a fan of his guitar style, it's just that it doesn't belong on pop records. Like a loud and leery uncle who gate crashes a dinner party. Sort of entertaining but you wish he'd gone somewhere else.

The debut album from Sam Brown is an adventurous affair anyway even without the Floyd-esque guitar heroics. Sometimes poppy, sometimes experimental, very occasionally bland and definitely slightly off-kilter. A very British pop album then, and all the better for it.

Everyone will know the hit single title track but beyond that there are some rather odd yet engaging moments. Take the vaudeville tinged 'Tea'. At 41 seconds long it doesn't hang around but certainly establishes her love of the hot beverage. 'It Makes Me Wonder' is a song that you'll be sure you've heard before whereas 'This Feeling' is a genuinely great 80s pop song. All these songs are held together by Sam's truly powerful vocals. Chuck in a few soul standards in 'Can I Get A Witness' and 'Nutbush City Limits' and you have an entertaining album, even from the distant coolness of 2012.

David Gilmour's been quiet of late - maybe in the face of pop idols he's given up trying to blaze a pop career. Perhaps he's gone AWOL to avoid antagonising Roger Waters. But be warned - it could be the excuse he's been looking for!





No comments:

Post a Comment