Bolton News Interview 5th June 08
Sometimes Review in Diskant
The good folks at Cityscape sent me a marvellous panoply of things to do with this release - not only a nice-looking snow-white 7″, but a CD, DVD containing the ‘Sometimes’ video and even a badge. So they’re already scoring high on generosity alone. Not that I can be bought, of course. Merchandise releases gone by have twinned low-fi ‘knowing loser’ pop with subtle electronica, but on ‘Sometimes’ it’s as simple a format as can be: plinky-plonk piano and sweet-hearted lyrics skipping along over a relaxed, summer-in-the-park arrangement of walking bassline and brushed drums. It’s all very cute, innocent and likeable, akin to a Badly Drawn Boy whose face you do not wish to smash in. B-side ‘Glitterati’ follows in a very similar vein, with fresh-feeling music and a vocal delivery that leans over Pulp’s garden fence. This isn’t a record for the cynics or noisemongers amongst you, but there must be some pop fans left out there?
Simon Minter
Manchester Music Review
| By Emily Slowlie | |
There aren’t many bands around these days who are capable of making genuinely happy music. Despite the heartbroken sentiments of “Sometimes”, there’s a sunny disposition to everything going on here. Combining pianos with acres of harmony and a lead vocal that often teeters just on the right side of a tune, there is a sure footed but fragile delivery, Merchandise can produce a dazzling output. It seems the outfit are a duo (Brad B Wood and Conrad Astley), yet keeping the arrangements quite sparse works very much tin their favour. “Glitterati” allows them to hold their own with more of the same, although it’s a little more downbeat and searching, as the sustain of an E-Bow glides over the tinkling of keyboards and Bard Wood’s delightfully reflective voice. MMMM |
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