A functional pop pleasantry
Glenn Meling has an interesting life. He’s been making music since he was a nipper, playing in bands all over the shop. He’s never lived in the same place for more than a year, travelling from his home country of Norway to Australia to London and back again. He commuted between London and Oslo to earn enough money to fund the recording of his debut album ‘Sometimes A Bigger Heart’ (due for release 2010) which he says is about “the fact that human beings have hopes and dreams, and they do get pulverised quite often. Still, giving up is not an option.”
A passionate sentiment, exposed in the lyrics of the album’s first single ‘All You Can Do,’ but Meling didn’t manage to reflect in its sound, the dedication and love obviously poured into this music.
'All You Can Do' is a pleasant, shoulder-shrug inducing, fully functional Sunday afternoon pop track. With a standard rocky drum beat, an 80s styled guitar on the chorus, electro keyboard, U2 styled twisted riffs and a pleasing melody, it sounds a lot like many of the conventional pop songs that are out there already. Meling’s vocals work with the sound, with Bono-esque emotive intonation but nothing that would ignite your imagination.
If only he could make his sound as unconventional as his lifestyle, he might have something special. As it is, this is an unadventurous, un-astonishing track that you can’t really hate, but you can’t really love either. Listen and be overcome by a violent wave of all encompassing indifference.