|
Pop CDs of the week: The Thrills, Nelly and more
Aberfeldy
Young Forever, Rough Trade
Aberfeldy
are a bunch of young, Edinburgh-based folkies who have
dreamt up the brightest pop debut of the year. Their
first single Heliopolis By Night has already garnered
a couple of Single of the Week notices, which is only
fitting for a robust, motoring tale of UFO abduction
partly sung by nasal "aliens" and which deploys
fruity instrumentation such as kazoo and Theremin.
Indeed, the vibrant, organic sound of Young Forever
is one of its triumphs. Expertly marshalled by Scottish
folk multi-instrumentalist/producer Jim Sutherland,
its use of mandolin, glockenspiel, fiddle and harmonica
is never less than invigorating. Throw in the delicate
warble of frontman Riley Briggs, backed by the heavenly
trills of Sarah McFadyen and Ruth Barrie, and the result
is a kaleidoscope of bright, cheerful sounds.
And every song is a winner. The pastoral ballad Slow
Me Down is like an old REM number, Vegetarian Restaurant
is a moving song about love over the beansprouts, and
Something I Might Tell You is an organ-led anthem that
echoes Belle & Sebastian at their perkiest. An album
to keep the Indian summer blazing.
Craig McLean
13/09/2004
arts.telegraph.co.uk
REVIEWS INDEX •
READ NEXT REVIEW
|
|
