A Likeable Lou Reed Who Doesn't Quite Deliver
Mike Marlin was highly touted by a fair few organisations at the start of this year. HMV touted him highly and they're crying out for a new musical saviour to shift credible units. Marlin is as far removed from manufactured pop as possible and could be that guy. In a previous interview on this website he seems to come across as a guy who's just happy to be there and pick up his Participant award; make an impact without being earth-shattering.
Marlin has been garnering support slots with bands like the Stranglers. That's the sort of territory we're in and it isn't half bad. It isn't however half good either. Latest release "No Place Like Home" meanders along but doesn't really go anywhere. It feels like an Elbow B-side in it's ambient, relaxed state.
The song itself has clever lyrics whose rhymes don't feel forced with synths dotted over a fairly metronomic drum track and honestly, deserves a payoff better than repeating some life lesson about streetlights for over a minute to the fade. Maybe it's me and I'm missing the wisdom of his 50 years. It's on the cusp of something great but fails to capture an imagination due to the lack of a decent climax (no laughing at the back). That feeling isn't helped by the album edit, which takes even longer to reach it's denouement.
The opening riff to the B-Side had me thinking that this is a cover and after consulting your friend and mine, Wiki, it's a fantastic choice. Inxs released "Beautiful Girl" in 1993 and Marlin carefully takes the source material, adds his silky voice over the top and drives it to a short and thoughtful reworking. It's heresy, I realise, but I never liked Lou Reed, so to me, this is a likeable version of him. And a better one.
Man cannot live by covers alone, however, and it is a shame that this highly anticipated man can't break through the glass ceiling. Not with this release anyway. HMV, like the rest of the music industry I wager, are desperate for someone new to canonise. With a bit more depth, Mike Marlin could be that guy.