Classic Pop April 2019

SINGLES

MATTHEW RUDD

THE HOST OF FORGOTTEN 80s ON

ABSOLUTE 80s RADIO CHECKS OUT NEW

RELEASES, INCLUDING MORRISSEY, MIKE +

THE MECHANICS, CARLY RAE JEPSEN, ELLIE

GOULDING, RED BOX AND ALPHABEAT...

RIDER
TELL NOBODY
English-American singer-
songwriter Rider has conceived
a brilliantly energetic and lavish
electronic pop song, complete
with skidding car effects and a
dream sequence in the middle.
The vocal is strident, yet still
wholesomely girlish, and all
blends into a fantastic single.

MARINA

SUPERSTAR

Shorn of the diamonds that never

were, the Welsh singer with

the huge range has dropped a

peculiar single, combining some

faux-soprano verses with a sober

rhythm and a solitary chorus

that zigzags into ambient dance

music. It probably needs a good

few listens.

ALPHABEAT

SHADOWS

Everything about this record

suggests a band having fun; the

maniacal, headshaking drums,

the ecstatically shared verses, the

opulent harmonies, the choir-effect

refrain, the sudden ending.

A thrilling, tuneful piece of work.

And that makes it exactly the kind

that some people will detest.

MIKE + THE MECHANICS

WHAT WOULD YOU DO

A programmed drum track from

the start is an eyebrow-raiser, but

maybe a more synthetic feel suits

the effortlessly soulful vocals of

Andrew Roachford. As modern a

sound as a band of Mike + The

Mechanics’ highbrow reputation

could manage, and, as such,

very fair.

CARLY RAE JEPSEN

NO DRUG LIKE ME

Perched in her jimjams on a

retro ghetto blaster on the sleeve,

there’s nothing playful or out of

time about this track, in which the

likeable Canadian is vocoded

to within an inch of her life. A

reasonably melodic single falling

victim to dreadful over-production.

ELLIE GOULDING

FLUX

Great word to title a great song.

Ellie starts just with herself and

a piano, lights dimmed and

eyes on the target, prior to a

spruce, understated string section

and a semi-operatic harmony

guiding her safely through an

uncomplicated chorus. Reserved,

and far better for it.

RED BOX

THIS IS WHAT WE CAME FOR

The faintly square-dance feel

that permeated two brilliant 80s

Top 10 hits remains in place for

Red Box’s comeback song, with

prominent drums and squealy

backing vocals. Simon Toulson-

Clarke is in fi ne voice, if maybe

at an age-dictated lower pitch.

MORRISSEY

IT’S OVER

Mozzer’s new covers album has

caused quite a stir, just because

it seems such an un-Morrissey

thing to do. However, this

echoey version of Roy Orbison’s

heartbreak classic pays a bleak

and extremely sound tribute to the

original. He’ll win a few friends

back with it.