‘Electric Cables’ is the debut album from LIGHTSHIPS: effectively a band put together to make an album of songs written and sung by Gerard Love, who you probably know better as sometime singer, songwriter and bass player with Teenage Fanclub.
Gerard sought out like minded musicians from the Glasgow music scene, and recruited Dave McGowan on guitar (also of Teenage Fanclub), Brendan O’Hare on drums (from an earlier incarnation of TFC), Tom Crossley on flute (from The Pastels and International Airport) and Bob Kildea on bass from Belle & Sebastian).
There are ten tracks on the album, all which fall within the melodic guitar pop/ alternative pop genre. Musically, there is certainly nothing wrong it either. In fact there are similarities with The Velvet Underground’s third album. There are also occasional folk influences, vaguely reminiscent of some of Simon and Garfunkel’s early work. Several of the tracks on this album have a distinct 1960s feel which adds to their charm.
The only problem for me was the lack of a lyric sheet, as Gerard’s delivery can make the lyrics a little indecipherable. There again, some people might say this merely adds to their charm and certainly from what I could make out, there was some degree of storytelling in there.
|
For me, the best tracks on the album were tracks like ‘Girasol’, an aching guitar pop ballad. This is the sort of track that has all the hallmarks of a great single. The lyrics appear to be all about love and loss: - “When will you come back? I’ve been sittin’ here...I count the hours, I count the nights, the constellations, the distant lights/ Seem like transmissions of hope, for a swift return.”
‘Sweetness In Her Spark’ has a lovely 1960s retro pop edge to it, and really suits Gerard’s voice: - “Oh, cynical one, frozen inside, dares to know how the seasons change/ The quickening dark, changing the light...Gentle one this world is yours.”
It’s all pleasant enough, but some tracks ‘Every Blossom’ just drag on and lack focus. 'Electric Cables' is ultimately a labour of love, and one upon which the band sound extremely comfortable. It's not cutting edge, but it should have a wide ranging appeal that will probably propel it beyond just Teenage Fanclub devotees.
|
