more great UK retro pop: lucky soul
promo photo by Libi Pedder
You might have noticed from in last week’s song obsession that I recently found a another great British retro-pop band, this one called Lucky Soul (myspace). I love it that they have a Japanese version of their site.
They are a London-based band with roots in Glasgow and, in a story that sounds similar to Belle & Sebastian’s, a beginning in a Glasgow college’s music course. As far as their sound goes, I’d compare them to the often upbeat orchestrated pop of Belle & Sebastian and also a lot of the girl groups of the 60s, like Dusty Springfield, Motown, Phil Spector groups and the like.
I’ve really been enjoying their album the Great Unwanted which I got off of emusic a couple weeks ago. Check out a couple of their songs.
“Lips are Unhappy” is the clear single. It’s a very friendly introduction to the band. The chorus is just pure pop, almost overwhelmingly so. The break down, with its odd offbeat “shake shimmy shimmy, shake shake shimmy shimmy” is really what makes me love the song, though.
Lucky Soul – Lips are Unhappy (mp3)
“One Kiss Don’t Make it Summer”, with its guiro and strings, has more of the hallmarks of a 60s girl group song. It has great soft-verse/ full-chorus contrast.
Lucky Soul – One Kiss Don’t Make it Summer (mp3)
You can buy the album as an import or get it from emusic.
You can also hear more tunes at hype machine or stream the whole album on their website (click ‘music’).
Videos (music, interview) after the break.
Check out this video:
And here’s an interview:
