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Get Up / Somebody's Shoes
BROWNPAPER RECORDS
BRCDS02CS
Chris Singleton certainly knows how to bang out an upbeat pop tune or two, one of those melodic singer/songwriter types who's been raised on a diet of The Beatles and The Beach Boys.
Latest single GET UP finds the tuneful Dubliner cranking out some bouncy guitar riffs, coming up with a sound somewhere between Oasis and the Stereophonics. Full of upbeat charm, GET UP is a song wallowing in the simple pleasures; a big chorus and plenty of sing along moments the order of the day here. Flipside SOMEBODY'S SHOES sees Chris Singleton dabbling in electronic beats, a more atmospheric affair that has slight echoes of OK Computer Radiohead, albeit in a much slighter direction and by way of The Beach Boys.
Good rather than great, Chris Singleton is a solid singer/songwriter who just fails to ignite that extra special spark needed to elevate his songs to the next level. GET UP is a decent enough single and a fine pop song, just don't expect magic.
BIOGRAPHY
Chris Singleton is a solo artist from Dublin whose music is influenced by the heady pop and classic songcraft of yesteryear. His tracks are characterised by big melodies and an engaging production technique which combines traditional rock and pop instruments (guitars, organ, drums, piano) with contemporary sounds - dirty drum samples, crunchy electronica and digital effects. Written on the back of boarding cards and tube tickets which Chris used on his travels between Ireland and the UK, or abandoned newspapers which he found in railway stations, Chris' forthcoming album, TWISTED CITY, is conceived as a tube journey through London.
WORRY NUMBER ONE is the opener and first single from the record. It was written after a drunken and rather unplanned night out in Cannon Street. Having spent the day having meetings with various music industry people, that evening Chris was unwinding with some friends and a few drinks, during which he observed the behaviour of city guys at the bar and how certain people would act around money - badly, was his overall conclusion, and the conclusion of this song. This track - a delightful mix of glam Bowie, Revolver Beatles and the 'whoosh' of the Dr Who theme tune - is about ambition and uncertainty for the future, set against a backdrop of the drunkenness, money and perceived power of others who think they've got it made.
TWISTED CITY and WORRY NUMBER ONE were written, recorded and produced entirely by Chris and then mastered at Abbey Road by Geoff Pesche (Gorillaz, Coldplay, Athlete). The music benefits from repeated listens, sunshine and a shared frustration that McCartney hasn't been writing songs as good as this for the last god knows how many years.
Following on from the intelligent pop-rock of the A-side, the B-side THE ONLY ONE has a more modern, indie feel to it, showing the diversity in Chris' songwriting style. Influenced by Belle & Sebastien, The New Pornographers, the narrative stylings of Ray Davies, the 60s pop of Small Faces, The Beatles and David Bowie and the more structured moments of Pink Floyd, Chris' music is timeless.
These are classic melodies lost along the way, thankfully found once more.
LINE UP
Chris Singleton
DISCOGRAPHY
WORRY NUMBER ONE (Brownpaper Records>2006)
Worry Number One
The Only One
GET UP (Brownpaper Records>2006)
Get Up
Somebody's Shoes
LINKS
Chris Singleton>www.chrissingleton.co.uk
FURTHER LISTENING
Oasis
Stereophonics
The Beatles
Review date: January 2007 |
