Track Listing > >
That'll Be The Day / Shell / Angel Of Mercy / Soul Love / New Dream / Medication / Lost For Words / Goodbye Angel Smile / Breathin' On Your Own / Feel Like Laughing / Mystified / Serious
F.O.D. RECORDS
Brimming with upbeat pop charm and Beatles-esque melodicism, SHELL, the debut album from singer/songwriter Gregory Darling is an album full of promise and potential. Pitched somewhere between David Bowie and John Lennon, Darling has a sound that certainly reeks of class and distinction.
Former single THAT'LL BE THE DAY swiftly sets the tone for what is to come, not a million miles from the mainstream pop of Robbie Williams, Gregory Darling has all the hallmarks of a next big thing phenomenon - infectious songs, great voice, charisma and inoffensive charm. THAT'LL BE THE DAY doesn't attempt to do anything fresh or original, but does what it does extremely well; a polished and sparkling pop tune that will fit right into radio schedules and have the CD:UK audiences eating out of the palm of his hand. Title track SHELL is a song that opens with a grand orchestral swell and soon emerges as epic pop in the vein of Simple Minds or U2, Darling crooning effectively against the lush musical backing.
The tender piano ballad, ANGEL OF MERCY is another quietly confident sounding effort, Darling hitting the emotional high notes with graceful ease and self assured vigour. NEW DREAM is a song that repeats the same tricks, the John Lennon comparisons though taken to extreme levels in places, Darling aping the same vocal inflections and ticks in a manner that veers a little too closely to imitation.
Songs such as MEDICATION, GOODBYE ANGEL SMILE and LOST FOR WORDS find Gregory Darling continuing to charm, sure, a little bland and inoffensive in places, but each having their moments of impressive singer/songwriter class. The orchestral pop of BREATHIN' ON YOUR OWN takes Darling's sound into more intriguing directions, equal parts David Bowie and ELO, this is the sound of someone spreading their musical wings and moving forward.
MYSTIFIED is another song that whilst a little pedestrian and middle of the road, is still a cut above much of Darling's competition out there, much more energised than your typical James Morrisons and James Blunts.
A slick combination of David Bowie, John Lennon and Robbie Williams - its hard to see how Gregory Darling can go wrong really. As an upcoming mainstream pop star in the making, SHELL is surely just the next step in Gregory Darlings inevitable rise to stardom.
BIOGRAPHY
The mesmeric album SHELL by Gregory Darling gets its UK release on 2 April 2007 through F.O.D Records. Already an enormous success in Italy with his first single (THAT'LL BE THE DAY) taken from the album, which was play-listed by almost every station nationally, Greg's profile and Top 10 chart-success led to an invitation to support Bryan Adams on his Italian stadium tour.
No stranger for the world of music, Gregory has previously served as Julian Lennon's long term co-writer, recorded with Tony Visconti, appeared on a Faster Pussycat album (!) and jammed with Prince after the megastar demanded to be allowed onstage with him.
Gregory's trademark classic pop sound is created by marrying great songs, melodies and his piano virtuosity, all underpinned by producer/arranger Bob Rose and a great ensemble sound from his band and string section. Performers on Gregory's album range from Robbie Blunt (Robert Plant) to David Gray's bassist Simon Edwards to Chris Field - Nigel Harrison ofisonb of Blondie played bass on SHELL. Darling says of his ambitious and lyrically diverse work, "There's a real organic, honest and classic feel to these songs, there's no cheating."
The comparisons have been flying - and flattering - but Gregory is his own man, with his own sound. A consumate performer, with one London residency under his belt already, he looks forward to taking to the stage in the UK again soon. Penny Black raved, "These songs have quality stamped all over them... and sound like they were made to be blasting out of radios everywhere," SHELL confirms Gregory Darling as a songwriter of real talent. UK Music Search hailed, "All the hallmarks of a next big thing phenomenon", whilst MusicOMH.com praised, "A wonderfully melodic piece of classic pop with dulcet harmonies and a smooth texture.
Launched on 2 April 2007, this SHELL is heading our way and is set to explode!
LINE UP
Gregory Darling
DISCOGRAPHY
THAT'LL BE THE DAY (F.O.D. Records>2006)
That'll Be The Day
Medication
SHELL (F.O.D. Records>2007)
That'll Be The Day
Shell
Angel Of Mercy
Soul Love
New Dream
Medication
Lost For Words
Goodbye Angel Smile
Breathin' On Your Own
Feel Like Laughing
Mystified
Serious
LINKS
Fifth Element>www.fifthelement.biz
FURTHER LISTENING
David Bowie
The Beatles
Money Mark
Review date: February 2007 |
