Hepburns - How the Fallen Are Mighty
by Tommy Gunnarsson
published: 14 / 8 / 2010
Label:
Radio Khartoum
Format: CD
intro
Witty and clever indie pop on fifth album from durable Wales-based group, the Hepburns
Matt Jones’ musical vehicle the Hepburns are not to be trusted. Last time I heard them, on 'The Last Thing I Saw Before I Said Goodbye' (released in 2004), the songs were heavily influenced by bossanova, but from what I have heard they have not stuck with that recipe on the following two albums, and they are not returning to it this time around either. On 'How the Fallen Are Mighty', their fifth ful length album, they have opted for a more straight-forward indie pop sound, and I must say that I am quite impressed, even though it has its ups and downs. The first real song (the first track is a short instrumental), 'Sad, Free, Excited and Empty' is pure pop bliss, with a great, groovy bass line catching your attention immediately. The next song, 'Nobody Loves Me' (sounds like a Morrissey song, doesn’t it?), instantly makes me think of the Brilliant Corners, which is not a bad thing at all. The song that is followed by the weird 'One More Notch on the Bedpost', a tuba-heavy oompa-oompa track that probably would be a smash hit in Germany. Overall, the lyrics are really good, and according to the lyric booklet, they were written by a friend of Jones. Most of the time, they are really funny, with many memorable lines and titles, like 'Ken Park: The Man, the Film' (which, surprise surprise, is about a man called Ken Park, but if you Google his name, all you get is information about the film), 'Save Your Stories for the Police, Maurice' and 'Writer Friend' (which is about a friend that claims that he’s a writer, but he’s not very good). All in all, this is an album that will probably grow more on me, but I don’t think I ever will get used to the horrible saxophone solo in “Save your stories...”. Oh my...
Track Listing:-
1 Vanishing Act2 Sad, Free, Excited and Empty
3 Nobody Loves Me
4 One More Notch on the Bedpost
5 Writer Friend
6 Delores
7 The Help
8 Save Your Stories for the Police, Maurice
9 Vermouth
10 Persona Non Grata (In Margam Place)
11 Growing Old
12 Man Missing
reviews |
Deciphering Linear A (2006) |
Enjoyably straight-forward indiepop on new single from Welsh band the Hepburns, which has been released on both 7” vinyl and a 3” CD within the same package |
most viewed articles
current edition
The Church - Interview with Steve KilbeySimon Heavisides - Destiny Stopped Screaming: The Life and Times of Adrian Borland
In Dreams Begin Responsibilities - #15- On Being Dignified and Old aka Ten Tips From Jah Wobble On How To Be Happy.
Repomen - Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
Vetchinsky Settings - Interview
Jack Roscoe - Interview
Near Jazz Experience - Interview
Secret Shine - Interview
Sami Sumner - Interview
Zombies - Interview
most viewed reviews
current edition
Lewis 'Burner' Pugh - Bullets for BreadInutili - A Love Supreme
Kula Shaker - Natural Magick
Ian Hunter - Defiance Part 2: Fiction
Smalltown Tigers - Crush On You
David Cross Band - Ice Blue Silver Sky
Hillbilly Moon Explosion - Back in Time
Beyonce - Cowboy Carter
My Life Story - Loving You is Killing Me
Ty Segall - Three Bells
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart