The Felice Brothers CELEBRATION, FLORIDA. Loose Music

The Felice Brothers (Simone, Ian, and James) and their long time friends and bandmates Greg Farley and Christmas Clapton, come to us from the Catskill Mountains, where a homegrown sound has been working its way through the bloodlines for generations. Their rambling journey so far has brought them from busking in New York City subway stations, to tours across the world that have included enthusiastically received performances at major music festivals including Bonnaroo, All Points West, Outside Lands, and Langerado.

A defining memory to date might be their appearance at the 2008 Newport Folk Festival. A summer afternoon thunderstorm rolled in and began to douse the land. While it electrified the atmosphere, the rain had the adverse effect of cutting power to The Felice Brother’s stage. After many assurances that power would be restored, they were informed it was a lost cause, and that they’d have to make due acoustic. Without hesitation the band jumped down into the crowd and began playing acoustic while stomping around barefoot in the mud that had formed on account of the ongoing downpour. What might have led some to call it a wash and leave was turned into another epic show that drew upon the familiarity and casual ease of the backyard bbq sessions that took place at their dad’s porch on Sunday afternoons during their first days as a group. The audience that day, like others before and after, left utterly converted.

And so to this album which at times is extraordinary. Take the utterly original opener, ‘Fire At THe Pageant’ which I swear will floor you. I’m reminded of the Carrie movie when she sets fire to everything. This song is complete with a bunch of kids singing the chorus “Everybody calm down, everybody’s shouting’ repeatadly. There’s great melody and magical production which conveys the feeling that something has gone terribly wrong. ‘Container Ship’ is a dreamy, fairytale kind of song with few lyrics but a distinct feeling of nostalgia and sadness:

I can see the container ship in the sea
I can see the container ship in the sea
I can build a home in Albany

Came around the world from old Japan
Came around the globe from old Japan
I wonder if it has a dance band

But what if pirates come
What if the pirates come
What if the pirates come
You have come

‘Honda Civic’ is more upbeat with a stronger melody and about the dreams and pursuits of American youth. It’s gorgeous and reminds me of Grandaddy. ‘Oliver Stone’ as you can imagine is about watching movies as its piano vibe moves along slowly and beautifully. This album is about looking back with joy and regret, and is incredibly diverse sonically with much invention and distinction. It does take a few listens to fully appreciate the album’s magic, but love it you will. Unusual and compelling.

4/5

Toploader ONLY HUMAN. Underdogs

Toploader are a British band from Eastbourne who formed in 1997, with over two million album sales to their name and a string of top 20 hits both home and abroad. Their debut album, Onka’s Big Moka, sold over 1 million units and remained in the Top 5 of the UK album chart for over six months. Their cover of King Harvest’s song “Dancing in the Moonlight” became a global hit for the band. Their second album, Magic Hotel, reached number 3 in the UK Albums Chart.

The band decided to break up in 2003 due to the demise of their record label S2 but, after an extended hiatus, signed a one-album deal with Underdogs Music for their third album, which will be released in 2011. The album title has been confirmed as Only Human, and the first single from the new album, “Never Stop Wondering”, was released on 14 March 2011. They are due to release the new album on 6 June 2011,  with new single “A Balance to All Things” (featuring a remix from Ash Howes) following on 20 June.

Toploader’s live career began playing with the likes of Coldplay and Muse in small venues across the UK. They later went on to back the likes of Paul Weller, Robbie Williams and Bon Jovi, becoming the last British band to play the original Wembley Stadium. The band line-up is four of the five original members, Joseph Washbourn, Dan Hipgrave, Rob Green and Matt Knight.

So the album has arrived and with it comes my personal memories of interviewing Washburn in Liverpool just before a gig at what used to be called the Lomax. Myself, my daughter and the Sony PR lady were blowing bubbles onto the stage - I still have an unused container of bubbles from back in 1999! The original album was great but then ‘Dancing In THe Moonlight’ came along and I feel painted the band as nothing more than popsters - which they patently weren’t. The opener to the album ‘Marrakech’ still has strong pop senseability but is closer to the rock band I first saw and heard. ‘A Balance Of All Things’ follows the same route but with a stronger melody and single release potential with its catchy choruses.

Piano introduces ‘The Sound Of Your Soul’ which also has a powerful rhythmic underbelly and characteristically strong melody. The album title track is quite beautiful with its stripped down piano backdrop and Washburn in great, expressive voice - with its wide range. There isn’t a weak song here and the album deserves to be heard and bought. It’s not a great album but it is a good one with several tracks more than worthy of Radio 1 airplay.

3.5/5