April – The Rise And Fall Of A Beautiful Bird / Beat Up Generation

And yes, the single is a blast, ballsy too; when did you ever hear a pair of songs so unconcerned by what’s in fashion or so wrapped up in themselves? Nothing wrong with that m’lud.

And yes, the single is a blast, ballsy too; when did you ever hear a pair of songs so unconcerned by what’s in fashion or so wrapped up in themselves? Nothing wrong with that m’lud.

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I can’t quite put my finger on why I like April. My name is associated with them in that I always end up writing their promo text. Willingly, because I think they’re great. Potentially a really great, interesting band. I wouldn’t do it if I didn’t think it, either. But I still can’t put my finger on why I like this single, (both tracks on which show their individuality and strength), or them as a band to be honest. There are elements in this carapace that would normally have my trad Northern lad credentials needing a medical. And there are elements in their sound and demeanour that are potentially very off putting. I know lots of people who don’t like them. At all.  

And now they have this single out, The Rise And Fall Of A Beautiful Bird, a prescient name maybe.   Both tracks are great but the A side is worth special attention: a clear vocal from Julia, a dash of Paul Haig soul in the sound and a strong snappy rhythm. What’s not to like? Listening in to their mix of glammed-up soul and hard-edged pop, and sensing that they are absolutely determined to do things their own way, you can’t help but feel that it’s like registering the movement of some weird tectonic shift, something that hasn’t quite settled down to a position where you can get your bearings, into something I can safely like or dislike. I should say I really like it, but it’s just so cussed despite it being music that would have turned most daytime deejays’ heads back in the era of jumpers and roadshows.

I’ve said this before but I think it’s worth repeating, they come close to reminding me of bands like the Banshees, or Aztec Camera; acts I liked but never sussed fully because back then, they just kept changing, you couldn’t see what was really going on behind all that gloss and hairspray, or those conceptual videos.  But they have talent. And yes, the single is a blast, ballsy too; when did you ever hear a pair of songs so unconcerned by what’s in fashion or so wrapped up in themselves? Nothing wrong with that m’lud.