I've always had something of a sweet tooth. I'm not aware if a related condition of 'sweet ear' exists - but if it does, I've got it. The symptoms being bending and buckling at the knee over honey-coloured chords, Milky Bar harmonies and butterscotch pop - almost entirely the type of confection Evolved Monkey excel at.
Sketching comparisons and contextual references is almost a disservice to Evomons intimate but open air sound and breezy rhythms. Although if pushed - suggesting they've cross-pollinated the slow melting melodies of Macca, Brian Wilson, Andy Partridge, Ben Folds and Jellyfish (with a small echo of The Charlatans) layered them on a bed of trip-pop backbeats and the space-age acoustics of Air or Goldfrapp all of which waft on the gently swelling drift of Yacht Rock - wouldn't be unfair..
There's not many albums I can play several times on the bounce and still want to reach for the repeat button - but weighing in at a perfect 40 minutes of well balanced and buffed quality pop, Project Messy is a selection box that's almost impossible to resist revisiting for a second helping
Evolved Monkey - Naked Lady
Recommended Reading..
Evolved Monkey website
Evolved Monkey MySpace
it really is a superb album - a perfect soundtrack to the summer..
ReplyDeleteWell, with that description I just had to listen! It's great, isn't it?
ReplyDeletePerfect lazy summery melodies sweeping over you... pity I'm at work...
Is that the Bobbi I think it is - it couldn't be! Could it?
ReplyDeleteI only found out about them on Friday Cocktails, a bloke I work with casually mentioned some ex-Uni mates of his 'do some music'. Checked the myspace, website and became instantly hooked. Grabbed the album from Amazon on Friday and it's been on perma-play ever since.
It is gorgeous, original and feels as roomy as a widescreen horizon of say the Beta Band but as cosy as a close mic'd live performance - try taste testing via the amazon link there's sound samples for every track..
The album has Rodgers and Hammerstein style string arrangements, Bruce Lee samples and even a spot of polite-rap. It's the best £6.99 I've spent this year.
Wow! That was definitely some description. It really made me wanna check this out. I thought it was wonderful. I've never heard of them so this was quite a treat. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteI got a bit buzzed up and carried away Keith - I may post another tune later (perhaps the Bruce Lee one?)
ReplyDeleteIf you've not listened to it go and search out Good Humor by Saint Etienne. Most of their stuff is the sound of spring/summer, but this particular album sounds like the Ets are backed by Alan Hawkshaw and is very late 60s early 70s easy meets groovy.
ReplyDeleteFunny you should mention the St E's Simon - I'm posting a new Lazy Sunday 'spring collection' mix this coming Sunday. One of the tunes featured is Saint Etienne, but not from Good Humor...
ReplyDeleteI'm just writing an Ets post. Must be the weather!
ReplyDeleteMelancoly - is that the right description?
ReplyDeleteSimon - downloaded Good Humor, I'll be taking it on my hol's next week.
ReplyDeleteF-Ron
Yes optomistic melancholy (in places) would nail it.