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| From | lauree <wordtravelsfast@gmail.com> |
| Subject | Lightships (Gerry Love/Teenage Fanclub) 'Electric Cables' solo record |
| Date | Wed, 18 Jan 2012 14:59:34 -0500 |
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I'm looking forward to this. Can't wait to hear it all!
http://www.dominorecordco.com/uk/news/18-01-12/lightships-gerard-love-announce-debut-album-electric-cables/
It's no secret that within Domino there is a lot of love for Teenage
Fanclub, and that some members of staff have a special fondness for
the songs of singer, songwriter and bassist, Gerard Love. In recent
times, Gerard has been very much part of The Pastels, who operate
occasional Domino imprint, Geographic. The idea of an album of Gerard
Love songs burned for a long time until eventually label enthusiasm
prevailed, and Gerard agreed that it was an idea that he too was
excited about.
From the outset, Gerard was clear that he wanted to establish a group
name for the record, a name that was evocative and ambiguous, that
could somehow place the music within a slightly blurry and imagined
context. He didn't want to give the impression that the record was
just about him. Having settled on the name, Lightships, he sought out
a cast of Glasgow-based friends to play on the record that was
starting to take shape in his head; Dave McGowan (guitar, Teenage
Fanclub), Brendan O'Hare (drums, from the first incarnation of Teenage
Fanclub), Tom Crossley (flute, International Airport and The Pastels)
and Bob Kildea (bass, Belle & Sebastian).
Liberated by a feeling that he had complete carte blanche to do
whatever he wanted, Gerard came to a realisation that the key to the
sound of the record would be tremolo, delay and flute. At times the
record has the dynamics of a soundtrack, as one of Tom Crossley’s
flute lines weaves into the ether and Gerard’s vocals bounce off each
other. Or, as on Sweetness In Her Spark, the group lock into a
relaxed and breezy groove that demands the windows be flung open.
Lightships is a name that perfectly captures the atmosphere of the
music - sparkling and radiant and illuminated throughout by Love’s
melodic gifts and taste for adventurous arrangements. The overall
sound, while as warm and immediate as the songs Gerard writes for
Teenage Fanclub, is more free flowing and loose. Muddy Rivers is
carried along on a wave of interlocked instrumentation while
Photosynthesis is a hazy wash of flutes and echo. On Silver And Gold,
Gerard sings with a falsetto before a chorus of harmonies bursts into
life. With this music it’s as if he was looking to express something
more personal, eccentric and introspective.
Electric Cables is an album of tender, observational songs, played
with an invigorating and easy sense of purpose; the sound of friends
enjoying one another’s company and allowing ideas and experiments to
flourish. It's a complex and rewarding record that you'll want to
keep coming back to. Slow illumination.
The album will be available on CD, vinyl and digitally. All songs
were written by Gerard Love, produced by Gerard Love and Bal Cooke.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4y9_Y404FQE
--
music http://www.last.fm/user/bluflower/
photos http://flickr.com/photos/bluflower
blog http://wordtravelsfast.net/
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