Optimum Impact Review
Please enjoy this delightful Red Light Fever review from Optimum Impact…
http://optimumimpact.co.uk/2009/01/22/hot-leg-red-light-fever/
Tongue tied is not my
normal state. I do rabbit on, and when I’m reviewing something I get
all flowery. I like words – but this time, they haven’t liked me and
this particular review has taken AGES to write. Knowing what you want
to say and not being able to do it is just the pants… Got there in the
end!
Hot Leg. Début album.
Doormat. Mad rush to electrical appliance – open the envelope, stupid
girl! Insert contents, turn power on, settle back for ten intense
bursts of bliss. Repeat as necessary.
I’ve got, in my hands and
ears, songs to melt to. I’m lucky – I’ve heard all of them more than
once live, except for Kissing in the Wind. I know them, recognise them,
they’re virtually godchildren! Wasn’t at their conception, of course,
I missed out on the messy bits. It’s very different when you have a
nice undistorted sound. Nobody’s shouting in my ear, I’m not trying to
take photos and I don’t need to worry about being able to see. I can
just relax and truly listen. And yes – to those who asked – I like it.
Love it.
There’s more layers than
I’m used to hearing, both instruments and voice. Some vocals are
startlingly choral, like in Chickens, and there are layers of Justin’s
voice everywhere. His singing swoops and soars as it ever has done,
more easily I think. It sounds more assured. There’s more mid-range
singing, which I’ve always liked. Kissing in the Wind and Ashamed are
prime examples. Speaking of Ashamed – the nation’s future anti populist
tv protest song – there’s a glorious brief moment when Beverlei Brown’s
voice slips in beside his, and the two are inseparable until she takes
off on her own. Her smooth depth of tone match his beautifully – it was
a surprise first time to realise it wasn’t Justin. I want more of that!
She makes it sound so easy, dammit.
I suppose you expect me to
eulogise about the guitar playing? Quite right too. Well, it’s as
brilliant and beautifully executed as you’d expect. Whatever the
flavour – rock solos, bluesy intros, delicate fingering in Trojan
Guitar – it’s spot on. Keyboards are prominent – lovely synth in
Chickens made me smile – and piano in Kissing in the Wind. You’re not
going to get an album without those in! There’s often a heavy pounding
rhythm, bringing Man Rock down to deep and dirty under those
deceptively catchy bits that are more Velcro than hooks. You’ll find
changes of tempo within songs rather than across the album as whole,
but there’s plenty of variety.
I’m not going to dwell on
The Darkness. If you hear TD in this from time to time, why should it
be a surprise? Some songs were written in 2002, right back in the hard
slog days. Justin wrote and recorded this album, working on it for
months before Hot Leg were finalised. The future writing will be
interesting, collaborating with the rest of Hot Leg.
Have a very careful listen
to the lyrics. Ponder them. Draw your own conclusions where you need
to. Love songs have realities embedded in them - you can’t have slush
without slipping on it sometimes. Prima Donna and Trojan Guitar have
their own histories and meanings. However you read them, it’s obvious
that Justin’s lyrical adroitness isn’t a flash in the pan. A word or
two can change the entire point, feel and thrust of a sentence or song.
In Kissing in the Wind, it’s one consonant. That song could be as much
about Justin’s fans as the lover it addresses, to my mind. Can’t wait
to hear it live.
Apart from I’ve Met Jesus,
which has been top banana since I first heard it, I can’t pick out
songs to put above others. They all have something that delights or
intrigues. Any disappointments? No. I think I might have preferred to
have Extraordinary Woman rather than Chickens, I rather like that song.
And Come Into My Arms – mmm, yes, then Cupboard Love and Automa… can’t
have too much of a good thing. Albums should have B-sides! The main
problem with the whole album? Listening to it in comfort, I’ve
discovered I’ve been singing lyrical bollocks of my own devising all
these months. Oops *blush*.
Red Light Fever inflames
the senses, it’s true. Drives one to sing and dance, headbanging (can
you airheadbang?), and if you’re DEFINITELY alone in the house,
striking silly poses at the same time as the above. Are these not
indicators of truly good music? No? Then music’s not fun any more. I
want Rock with a bit of life about it, some humour, reality and one or
two things to ponder. And some Man, just to spice it up a bit.
Red Light Fever is out on 9th February 2009, and available from www.play.com , www.amazon.co.uk, and www.townsend-records.co.uk/artist.php?artist=hotleg . Townsend have a bundle offer on the next single Cocktails, out on 23rd February. They also have the red vinyl LP version.
Track Listing:
1. Chickens
2. You Can’t Hurt Me Anymore
3. Ashamed
4. I’ve Met Jesus
5. Trojan Guitar
6. Cocktails
7. Gay In The 80s
8. Prima Donna
9. Whichever Way You Wanna Give It
10. Kissing In The Wind
Great music, great.
