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Review: Jack Foley
LIVERPOOL eight-piece, Ella Guru, release their debut long-player
amid a wave of positive publicity, with everyone from Time Out
to the NME hailing them as a band to look out for.
My First Album, released through Banana Recordings,
is a dream-like collection of alt-country songwriting, which conjures
memories of Turin Brakes' acoustic style at its most laidback,
as well as drooling Nashville style of Lambchop, and the occasional
nod to Simon and Garfunkel.
It will be acquired taste, for sure, but even if you can't get
on with John Yates's relaxed, slightly husky, vocal style, then
there's no getting away from the strength of some of the melodies.
Slide guitars, snare drums and harmonicas are the order of the
day, helping to create some truly mesmerising soundscapes that
seem virtually guaranteed to lull you into a relaxed state of
mind.
From the blissfully chilled out I Got My Mojo Working
to the slightly more lively Wonderful, this is a quietly
affecting album that washes over you just as the band expects.
Yet, it is mood music and there will be times when its slow-building,
pensive style might have you yearning for something a little more
lively, particularly since Yates' vocals rarely seem to pick up
the pace.
Tracks such as Oh God also fail to reach the heights
set by some of the earlier stuff on the album, which drags it
down somewhat.
But you have to admire the band's determination to keep things
different. They cite influences such as Dylan, Tom Waits, Neil
Young and Johnny Cash, but maintain that they sound like none
of them.
It's true, to a certain extent, and there is still plenty to
admire, especially during the strong first half, when tracks such
as Noisy Insects, This Is My Rock and Roll and Park
Lake Speakers really stand out.
Congratulations, then, to band members Yates, Christian Burwood
(guitar/keyboards), Nik Kavanagh (bass), Kate Walsh (vocals),
Nick Kellington (cornet/ukelele), Scott Marmion (pedal steel),
Bob Pickin (double bass) and Bren Moore (drums) - not to mention
a special appearance by Mothers of Invention drummer, Jimmy Carl
Black - for making this such a worthwhile and frequently rewarding
experience.
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Track listing:
1. Noisy Insects
2. They Called For Us
3. Augustus Golden
4. Park Lake Speakers
5. On A Mountain
6. This Is My Rock + Roll
7. I Got My Mojo Working
8. Wonderful
9. Oh God
10. Blues Is the Root
11. My Favourite Punk Tune
12. Base Is The Spine
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