Pop Art Perfection And A Groovy Ride
March 18th, 2009
Thanks to Ali from A Riot Of Colour and Uwe from Firestation, who directed me to Tony Jenkins (Plume, Everlasting Records, etc.) and to my pleasant surprise before I could contact him, I rec’d a message from Tony with a very kind offer to send me some of the rare recordings I have been searching for by Emily, Plume and AROC). He casually mentioned that he was now recording with a band called Pop Art (www.myspace.com/popartsongs) with Chris Free (ACraze - who recorded on Paul Weller’s Respond Records) and that I might enjoy them.
That was an understatement, to start with I love the name Pop Art (I had considered that for a label name at one point and those words appear on the cover of several of our releases) as it conjures up visual images of cool art forms like Lichtenstein and Warhol and hints at a very groovy, swinging sixties underground as might be found in films like Modesty Blaise or Darling with Dirk Bogarde, or a Fellini film, and with a soundtrack by mod bands with soul and freakbeat stylings. This band actually meets and exceeds those expectations and I have only heard the demo’s so far.
This is the stuff Mod/Pop dreams are made of - there are traces of The Jam in their more reflective and soulful phases on tracks like “Secondary Modern” (also hints of The Direct Hits), the smack of The Creation, the song “Biff Bang Pow” comes to mind as I listen to track 2 which is likely called “Pop Art” and takes you from a dreamy folky psychpop to quick wake up as the influence of The Creation’s BBP knocks you over. The Kinks “Waterloo Sunset” and it’s dreamy soundscapes also seem to surface, as well as hints of The Beach Boys and The Pearlfishers (who I sometimes use interchangeably), early Aztec Camera, and the early soul influenced songs by The Truth and much much more.
The band are currently recording their first album, which judging from the songs I have heard should be a magnificent release. Welcome to the world of POP ART, you will be in for a thrilling and groovy ride, one you will not regret taking.
Pop Art - Runaway Baby
Pop Art - State of Mind (demo)
Tags: [Pop Art] [Acoustic pop] [brit pop] [gerry and the pacemakers] [vocal harmonies] [art] [runaway baby] [mp3] [Firestation Records] [pop] [beachboys] [music]
Categories: Feature 45, Great Music |
