Joyful, summery follow up to their debut singles
Keep things sweet and simple, so the saying goes. And bandleader Mark Herbert seems to be doing just that, with just the barest hint of piano, strings, and drums to back vocalist Belle Erskine on the slow, sweet, but ever so slightly strange ‘Hey It’s Alright’. The song has ‘hit’ written all over it, without being so typically overproduced. But the violin is just creepy, adding an unusual edge to what would ordinarily be a classically-tinged acoustic ballad.
It’s a mystery why these songs are being released now they’re so summery. Like happy Paul Weller songs with a female vocalist. ‘Up For Air’ brings back the simple arrangements, this time with a catchy saxophone riff, and gloriously building climax that screams freedom and joy. Herbert’s revolving door policy regarding his musicians seems to work well, with a fresh approach to each song.
The CD also features the 2008 double A-side ‘Simple’/ ‘Goodbye To You’. Which begs the question: is it a single if you have two songs plus two bonus songs. Surely you should just issue it as an EP?