Its easy to love a record this good.
You will have heard of pop but have you heard of Pop Levi? Given this writers love of Ladytron there was no chance of him escaping under the radar but his debut solo album certainly caught the ear. Plenty of celebrities were lining up to give the thumbs up and it was a decent first offering which hinted at more. The good news is that the “more” has arrived and with ‘Never Never Love’, the time has come for everyone to get acquainted with Pop Levi.
The opening ‘Wannamamma’ sounds so much like Robert Plant that you think the Led Zeppelin reunion has taken a sidestep to deliver this slice of funky rock. There is no doubt that the vocal style of Pop Levi will have a few people taking a second listen but there is no doubt that there are other qualities to keep you hooked.
The title track ‘Never Never Love’ slips off the rock styling of the opening track but retains its funk and it winds its way through a light electronic backing. Theres no doubt that if a more established pop name released this album, it would be viewed as a startling pop record. We’ve already discussed the Zeppelin feel but the hard rock influence goes deeper and ‘Fire On Your Feet’ takes a lot from the 70 rock gods.
That said, the best thing about it ‘Never Never Love’ is that it is no mere rock album. Theres a myriad of influences and styles throughout the record and even each song will have a twist or break-down section that takes the listener away from their comfort zone.
‘Mai’s Space’ is extremely laid-back and comes across like a futurist reggae track and the vocoder effect on the vocals are a nice touch. Whether the title is a deliberate pun on the popular social networking site is unsure but it does mark a more relaxed style on the album. Coming nicely around the half-way stage, the album takes on a sunnier feel and seems a million miles away from the up-tempo opening tracks.
And just when you get into a relaxed feeling, the album takes another turn as ‘Oh God (What Can I DO?)’ turns up the glam rock with its stomping beat and pouty lyrics. There is no chance of getting bored with this record and it augurs well for the live show. It may not appeal to all types of music fans but there does appear to be a shift towards albums that showcase a number of styles on the one record.
She may not have the biggest backing from this site but there shouldn’t be any doubt that Gwen Stefani is one of the genuine pop acts that is credible these days. One of the most noticeable things about her albums is the range of styles she offers up and it works well as a collection for the people who would buy her records. Whilst we are not saying that Pop Levi is a Gwen Stefani but there is that eclecticism about him that should be recognised and rewarded.
By the end of the record you don’t feel as though you have sat through an album, you feel as though you have listened to a great mix collection. ‘Everything & Finally’ is a little bit of classic Prince whilst ‘Calling Me Down’ sounds like the Scissor Sisters when they get it right and don’t go over the top.
In short, Pop Levi has sculpted a pop masterpiece with this record that will have you in raptures all summer long.