Late last year Elbow front man Guy Garvey took a sabbatical from his lifelong musical cohorts to explore some new territory with a solo album. And while Courting the Squall did at times veer into familiar Elbowesque eloquence with Garvey’s whimsical “I’m just a working class lad out of sync with the world at large” poetic lyricism it did manage to avoid the grandeur of Elbow’s work. Indeed Courting the Squall eschewed the intricacy of Elbow’s arrangements for looser and more adventurous sonic detours that should have pleased Elbow’s fans none-the-less given the band’s unconventional approach to making music.
So with Elbow out of the picture for now (a new album is coming in 2017) Mr. Garvey continues to explore his fleeting new found freedom with another offering for the European summer. Not an album this time, just one song Guy says he was inspired to write as he shapes up for some festival performances, hence his claim that this song is one that “really gets the party started”.
Open The Door features the same players from his solo album and after an oddly mistimed count in lacking syncopation the song fires up with some understated horns and a swirling organ breaking into the kind of rhythmic urgency that wouldn’t be out of place on a 70’s blaxploitation film soundtrack. Open the Door not only gets the party started, but whets the appetite for what comes next.
Go Guy! Did make me want to move. Just a bit too repetitive for me. ‘Come on open the door!’ would ya’? I like the all girl brass section, and yes Trev, a perfect balance, not over powering.
It’s all about the groove on this one Marty, though Guy is a wonderful lyricist too. It’s worth exploring his solo album and of course the magnificent Elbow.
Definitely, what a splendid website and illuminating posts, I will bookmark your blog.All the Best!
Thanks Dave, much appreciated.
I simply want to mention I’m very new to blogging and site-building and certainly loved you’re blog site. Most likely I’m going to bookmark your website . You definitely come with excellent article content. Thank you for revealing your webpage.
Hi, thanks for your favourable comments on the the site and the articles, it’s great to hear that you’re enjoying it. No need to bookmark the site if you subscribe because you’ll automatically receive each new post. The subscription box is just below the turntable photo on the right hand side of the page.