Willie Dowling - The Simpleton

 

As long time fans of Honeycrack, Jackdaw4 and The Dowling Poole, we just couldn't resist a listen to Willie Dowling's debut solo album. Particularly, as we had heard that it was gonna be a Piano Pop affair and we do love the Piano.

It is more Piano Driven Pop Rock than a straight ahead man on a piano stool affair. You will have heard the Title Track opening up the current Listening To This Week Playlist and that sounds more than a little Andy Partridge. That was the song that encouraged Dowling to take on the album and you can fully understand why.

The album is essentially one of two halves. There are the 70s Pop Rock songs that border on a Softer Rock. All beautifully arranged and performed with the lyrical adeptness that is too often taken for granted, Dowling is a super songwriter.

Even on those lighter moments, there is still variety. Then there are the big production numbers which at time lean more towards The Dowling Poole with the Piano replacing keyboards. The closer, In The Ocean builds and builds with a wonderful arrangement.

Sadie Goldman is very sedate, but expertly sang and hypnotic. At times, these songs are very reminiscent of Kid In A Big World era John Howard. But when these songs break out, the word magnificent is the only one I can attach to them.

The Gravy Train vocal is Bowie-esque and the jauntiness of Down The Slide is totally affecting, a little Andrew Gold in places. I Killed My Imaginary Friend may be best thing here, lightning fist, a little 80s New Wave with a hint Toytown. Dowling has never made a bad album, he certainly isn't gonna start now and this is one of his best.

You can listen to and buy the album here. It is available on CD and as a download.

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Tomato Flower - No

 

I know many, and definitely me, bemoan the end of The Sugarplastic. I have always loved the angular earlier stuff of that band and so No as an album delights me. The Baltimore quartet have that angular. slightly chaotic, but splendid Guitar Pop down to a tee.

Previous to this, Tomato Flower have been more noted more for their Dream Pop, slightly pastoral and gently Psychedelic. This album still contains a couple of  great examples of that past, but is largely more about the Intelligent Alternative Indie Pop that we know and adore.

Destroyer is an ideal example of early Sugarplastic, despite it getting a little shouty the odd time. The instrumental arrangement on Radical is very Polly Brown. It is the arrangements across the album that are captivating, a little basic at times, but very inventive.

The Riff on Sally & Me is almost Prog and yet Tomato Flower are comfortable with mellow Pop. Temple Of The Mind is almost Disco Fun and Harlequin encroaches 70s Pop Rock Easy Listening. Do It is very New Wave, even Devo at times, almost mechanical.

Lost Lunar One even gets close to Dream Pop and reveals another fine arrangement. Magdelene even as a Fripp feel to the riff. The whole thing is incredibly engaging and the vocal sharing between Jamison Murphy and Austyn Wohlers dovetails beautifully. Wonderful Stuff!

You can listen to and buy the album here. It is available on Vinyl, CD and as a download.

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Bonfire Night Delays

Reviews have been slowed due to the Fireworks being let off in the area over the past few days. Hopefully, this is the last night. Meet Bailey, our Lurcher. who is petrified by the big bangs and my evenings have been spent settling him down.

Reviews are back tomorrow and then this post will be taken down. So with having a short moment of fame, Bailey would like you to know that he is 5 on December 2nd and that he does accept gifts.

The Review catch up begins tomorrow evening.

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Listening To This Week Playlist

27 songs this week and also an example of how fiercely we guard our independence. Despite regular offers of collaboration, we believe that keeping our freedom is the be all and end all. What other playlist would be essentially Pop Rock, but able to insert an 11 minute Prog song? 

I do hope that you can listen to all the songs across this week. The last listed is as great as the first and you have plenty of time to listen. This weekly playlist is solely for submissions, not the usual stuff that we dig out ourselves. 

All embeds open in new windows to aid scrolling. Links to the artists will also appear on I Don't Hear A Single Social Media sites over the next 24 hours, most likely tomorrow due to the later hour of posting. This will help you to discover more about the artists who appear here. 

Willie Dowling - The Simpleton

Nick Joseph - Pale, Tired Bones

Mt. Misery - On My Mind https://mtmisery.bandcamp.com/track/on-my-mind

Blake - Lighting Up For You

anna!! - The Brightest

anna!! · red (the brightest)

Barbara - Waiting Outside Alone

SlackRebel - Escape

Forgotten Dream - Rabbit Hole

Eric Barlow - Raving At The Wall

Stinako - I Believe

The Smivets - Close To The Hedge

Horse Chops - Mr. Headphones

The Electorate - Face Of A Giant

The Green Pajamas - Something About The Light

Captain Wilberforce - The Installation

Soft On Crime - Repo Man

Tony Billings - One

D-Tension - He/Him

Tablefox - Where Do I Belong?

Magic User - Like The Moon

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Velociraptor - Drag Me Under

Raphael Davison - Time Takes Time

Phantom Note - S O S

Sister Ghost - Drain You

2nd Grade - Triple Bypass In B-Flat

Rowan Smith - Slow Clouds

Rat Boogie - Back Of The Bus

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That Was October That Was !

So the last 31 Reviews In 31 Days has been and gone. A very busy October meant that we managed to fit in 34. One thing that we didn't get round to is the Back To The Future Reissue feature, so that will arrive in November,

There are still plenty of Reviews to come and some really interesting Forward Release Dates to arrive. WE also hope to be able to update you all on an expansion planned for I Don't Hear A Single Which is quite exciting. The plans have already begun, but the everyday IDHAS stuff and real life work means that we can't get it up as rapid as we would like. 

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NEPS - Common Life

 

Austria's NEPS offer up a cracking slab of Pop Rock. Massive memorable choruses, songs that you can sing along to, these choruses are like chants at times.You could call it a big stick of Rock with Brit Pop stamped through the middle of it.

Brit Pop is a genre that people think was only about Oasis, Blur and Pulp. But, if you moved away from the middle, the far more interesting harmony led stuff was easy to find and far more thirst quenching. NEPS would have fitted perfectly into that scene.

So maybe it is time to revitalise that scene with the new breed. This debut album would certainly help lead the way. Also, away from the big sounding chorus led songs, there is plenty of variety. Pop Shuv It for instance is a great mix of UK New Wave and early Blur.

Kicking Habits is a great male female vocal that gets into The Housemartins, even The Supernaturals territory with great pace. Goodbye is a great closer, much moodier with a real lighters out chorus, anthemic to the extreme.

Lessons For Your Life is an obvious single, although to be fair, any of these songs could do that job.Run gets all US 90s Rock with added Grunge Guitar. This is right up our street and would probably add a ramp to interest if it was on Bandcamp to listen to and buy. A splendid listen!

You can listen to the individual tracks here. The Vinyl can be bought here. Other links to listen are here.

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Shake Some Action - Chase The Light EP

 

Shake Some Action are never gonna change from the 60s Guitar Pop territory that they master, but here the vibe is more crunchy at times. The opener, Cut Loose, lets rip in fine style revealing another string to the bow.

How Far Will You Go is more UK Beat, but again adds ace Lead Guitar, a little Psych Pop at times, a bit of an Orgone Box feel without the trippiness. Spend The Days In The Sunshine is a little Medway, all 1967 getting it together in the country. There is also a great Brass interlude that is close to Brit Pop.

Chasin' Time gets seriously Toytown, wonderfully so and I Don't No Where She Goes goes back further towards Merseybeat, but also as a modern day jauntiness, a bit like a happier version of The Coral. Five songs here that master a beloved genre.

Shake Some Action certainly know what they are about. The sound may be a little retro and that suits. I would rather hear something that sounds like the past done this well than some of the mediocrity that we get from more modern chance takers. I don't hear anyone around doing this so well.

You can listen to and buy the EP here.

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