Groovy Uncle - Searching For The Grown-Ups

 

Groovy Uncle have mastered a brand of 60's Pop Rock with melodic slices of UK Beat and Psych Pop. Usually Glenn Pragnell gathers everyone together in the same room. The pandemic dictated that this wasn't possible for Album Number 9. 

Searching For The Grown-Ups was recorded at home, although you really wouldn't know that sound wise. With just Brass and a few Guitar tracks recorded remotely, it could be described as a Pragnell solo affair, but again it doesn't sound or feel like that.

The trademark Groovy Uncle sound is still present, particularly on Cool It Down and Jimmy Joined A Gym, but this seems a more varied Pop led album and reveals the full scope of Pragnell's talents. The man can certainly write a catchy tune and although it is essentially 60's led, the hooks are aplenty.

That Sinking Feeling is Merseybeat with a Duane Eddy twang and Not Inclined To Do is a ringer for early Hollies. He Misses You is a crackerjack of a song, lyrical sadness draped in a chirpy chipper tune. Not Inclined To Do is a classic Ready Steady Go male solo singer that made the ladies swirl.

It is the endearment of the album that strikes home most though. The piano led quaintness of Saturday Afternoon and the joyful Brass on Grown-Ups reveal a wit draping the ordinariness of everyday life in happy go lucky instrumentation.

Having said that the album is no one trick pony. There is a real rasp to Too Tired To Do Stuff and Gravesend is very different with its wonderful diary like talking vocal. Special mention too for the instrumental opener, Saturday morning, a surprise Brass led joy that sets the mood for a great pop album.

You can listen to and buy the album here. You can find out more about Groovy Uncle here.

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Ian McNabb - Utopian (2CD)

 

Ian McNabb unleashes a double CD that continues a splendid solo career and I'd underline solo. I was there from the early days of The Icicle Works, not long out of school and they were great days, both studio and live. 

However I do get irritated by every interview being focussed on that time. It was five albums and ended in 1990. So for thirty years, McNabb has built an incredible solo career as a sort of Singer Songwriter Troubadour and kept a large loyal following via constant recording and touring. This following covers all ages and in a rare rock example, an audience of both male and female.

Utopian feels a little different though. It seems a lot gentler, a lot more laid back and it really works because of this. 95 minutes is a lot of McNabb and if it was going at constant full belt, you'd soon get worn out. Normally, you expect his albums open with a blast that is a call to arms.

None of that here. The excellent opener, Boy, seems a little autobiographical and the epic Harry Dean Stanton are not the usual opening salvos that you expect, but both work beautifully in setting the scene for later outbursts. 

It is only at Song 4 that that trademark bite emerges and you sense that the angry young man is still in situ. Jonesin' soon follows and the full on Guitar hero emerges. It is a gripping noisy joy at full tilt. Yolo is easy listening schmooze and You Bring Good Things is fine power pop, almost Bruce Hornsby instrumentally, but heartfelt lyrically.

Rollin On (The Things We Left Behind) is one of those that songs that McNabb excels that. He often doesn't get the credit he deserves lyrically and it always most prevalent when the song reflects on the past. It is a song that could easily (sound wise) on Queen's Innuendo album.

The second disc maintains the quality of the first. Runnin' Outta Stuff has a real Truth And Beauty feel whilst The Old Grey Lady is a moody atmospheric ballad from a different west coast. Great Spirit is another slower affair, but seems desperate to break out without ever quite managing to.

Jivin' Miss Daisy is great call and response and the closer, Melody is  a dedication to the power of music with a gentle Brass accompaniment. The stand out though is We're Never Gonna Grow Up a real sing along affair.

The song is all Doobie Brothers complete with Sax Solo and a driving boogie rhythm. It is a little difficult telling you all about a 20 song album, so you can head over to Bandcamp to listen to it all, but let me finish first.

I have sensed a small wave of singer songwriters as the pandemic reaches a conclusion. It's not going to be like that Nineties explosion as too many will want to plug in and let the frustration out. There may also be a tendency to tell people how lonely they were. 

To his credit, McNabb doesn't bang on about the last 12 months or so. Plus looking back to the 90s. most of those singer songwriters are not around, poor third albums or lack of sales and interest called the public's bluff.

So if there is a new wave, then who better to father it than Ian McNabb. He is an exception to the rule, the love and quality of the music never deserted him He just battles away releasing great albums that should get a much wider audience. Maybe that time is now!

You can listen to and buy the download here. You can buy the CD or LP and find out more about Ian McNabb here. You can read the I Don't Here A Single reviews of Our Future In Space and Star Smile Strong here and here.

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Kevin Robertson - Sundown's End

 

A combination of two of my favourite labels, Futureman and Subjangle bring Kevin Robertson's debut solo album to the table. The leader of The Vapour Trails gets the opportunity to poke his nose into other genres, which he does incredibly well.

However, I'd also make the point that The Vapour Trails' reputation for Glasgow West Coast Jangle is a bit of misdirection. True, the band do that incredibly well, but listening to their output, particularly Golden Sunshine, the variation is already there. 

It can be said though that this is taken further by Robertson in solo mode. Big Old Town is all Hollywood Easy Listening Pop Rock, Settle Down is somewhere between Americana and Country and Could It Be is very very Gerry Rafferty.

See How We Love is all Celtic moodiness and Telepathic Minds is wonderful late 60's UK Psych Pop. This is taken a step further with the jaunt into White Album Harrison space with the hippy trippy closer, Yesterday's Reign. A venture that made these old eyes light up.

Into The Black jangles, but in a harmonic laid back way. Indeed, the only song that sounds like The Vapour Trails' supposed template is Love's Blue Yonder. Special mention has to be made for the splendid Silicone Sun when Robertson chirps up a Pavement vibe and develops a rocking croak.

I'm not sure if Kevin has just got all the song ideas that didn't fit The Vapour Trails or that this is where the future lies. If the latter, I'd happily go with that because if I had to choose, which I don't, I would go more in this direction. This is an album that reveals great talent. Highly Recommended!

You can listen to and buy the album here.

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Space Cadet - Lion On A Leash

 

May has been a month of real surprises and this continues into the ultimate day. You would expect an album from Dave Walsh and Matt Hock from The Explosion to be a little errrrr Punkish. Well this debut album from the pair is anything but.

Lion On A Leash is riff driven Pop Rock that has far more in common with Brit Pop and a more melodic version of The Cult. The guitar runs are certainly reminiscent of Billy Duffy. There's a hypnotic vibe to the riffs.

Scream For You is very second half of the 80s, almost Goth, yet Forever For A While is a far more chipper affair, almost anthemic. Bad Luck is comparable to Ian McCulloch fronting a Glam Rock band and Start Running Away has a hook and vocal that just grabs you.

The album concludes with an instrumental that could be a film theme. You can imagine the chase and the tension building. The album is built on killer riffs and guitar runs. The Pop is superb when let loose, but largely it is subdued and that allows those riffs to flourish. Great Stuff!

You can listen to and buy the album here.

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Radio Days - Rave On!

 

This is proper Power Pop. Italian Trio (it should always be a trio), Radio Days return with their fourth album and it doesn't disappoint. Radio Days specialise in the type of Power Pop that fans of the genre love and there doesn't seem to to have been much around like this lately.

There used to be a mass of this type of stuff to choose from and the lack of it now makes the album seem even more special. The trio can be whatever you want Power Pop wise, 60s, the second wave in the late 70s and the 90s revival. They master it all.

I Got A Love and Lose Control great UK New Wave, Walk Alone is splendid Jangle Pop and Till The End Of The Night is great Merseybeat. All eras are covered with ease and expertise. What Is Live is spot on UK Beat. 

Rave On is probably the band's most diverse album yet. No One To Blame is wonderfully anthemic and When I'm With You is top notch Glam Rock with a bit of US turn of the 70s swagger. The stand out though is the magnificent Between The Lines.

Between The Lines is all melody. An almost easy listening verse with organ accompaniment which breaks in to a big catch all chorus. It is a laidback affair that shows a whole new side to Radio Days. Power Pop fans will love Rave On!, but any fan of Indie melodic guitar pop should come along for the ride. You won't be disappointed.

You can listen to and buy the album here.

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Kitten Pyramid - KOOZY!!

 

In my Pop Rock circles, I get a fair amount of ribbing about my love of Prog. I've managed to turn quite a few people on to Psych, through my constant banging on about how Pop Psych Pop is now it seems the time is right to bring Prog Pop to the table. 

Kitten Pyramid are absolutely wonderful. I can't do justice to the history of the band in 18 lines. Suffice to say, they are a family and friends affair led by Scott Milligan who is an amazing songwriter. They've been helped along the way by more experienced musicians, particularly Tom Robinson who took them on Tour with him.

 

As a songwriter, Milligan's influences are from all over the place musically and lyrically, they focus on mental health and tinged with the sadness of the death of his mother, Yola, from Covid. This results in a mesmerising creative storm that spreads in all directions without ever losing its charm or becoming pompous and bloated.

There is a Big Big Train feel to the production, recorded at Rockfield and Konk Studios, that enhances the song quality and structure. Throughout the album there are more than hints of Neo-Psychedelia, but the emphasis is on Pop and results in one of the finest Pop Rock albums that you are ever likely to hear.

It is really hard to know where to begin describing the songs. From the Godley And Creme meets Brass Travelling Band feel of the title track to the symphonic blast of vocal harmony that is Swan Song, the album reveals something different with every listen.

In between you get the magnificent marching of Doughnuts, the splendid piano pop of Bounty and an almost Alan Price vibe on Needles. Special mentions should be made to the noisy Aunty Mabel which heads in the direction of Wire and the outstanding 7 Day Duvet.

Each of the ten songs here deserves its place on the album. There is no filler. Every offering is like an album within an album. It is official! Prog Pop is a thing and KOOZY!! will lead it into conquering all. I can't recommend the album any more highly. Superb!!!!

You can buy the album as a download for the bargain price of £3.49 here. You can find out more about the band and buy the album on CD or Vinyl here.

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The Like Minded People Link List

In a moment of complete dimwittedness, I have deleted the "Like Minded Friends" section of I Don't Hear A Single. I was adding a new blog that has replaced an older blog and in deleting the old one, deleted the whole section. 

I have a backup from 10 days ago, but that would be a great kerfuffle getting the posts since back up to date. So can I ask that, if you were included, you would remind me in case I have missed anyone and I will put you back in situ.

It can be new and improved blah blah etc etc. I am sitting in the corner wearing a hat that has a big D on the front. I shall sit here until I realise the consequences of my carelessness.