Much like Le Kid, Sound of Arrows and Bright Light Bright Light, Databoy have taken their sweet time in putting together their debut album. And also much like those aforementioned acts, the wait has been totally worth it because Dreams Are Gold is an utter delight from start to finish. The opus is a collection of dance-pop tunes that imbued with heart, soul, wit, originality and personality. It's the combination of this, but particularly the latter that makes this whole project a winner. Kicking off with Genius ("It's rough being a genius"), they set the bar high with a scintillating beat, vocodered vocal effects, a trippy dance hook & wry lyrics that celebrate how jolly amazing Databoy are. It could be perceived that this is a bit of an audacious statement, but considering what follows, it totally works.
The buzzy single, Just Once, is a song so saturated in summer that it positively drips parasols, beach balls and sunshine. It's like Club Tropicana meets Teenage Dream and encapsulates the joie de vivre that both those songs contain, set over enticing Ibiza-style synthy beats and a gloriously alluring chorus. It's devil may care, seize life by the balls lyrics are perfect for those balmy, feverish heated nights - all in all, the perfect musical treat. Similarly, the title track and new single (Dreams Are Gold), is a vibrant ibiza-infused anthem that lets it's positive message of never giving up simply soar during the luxurious chorus. A synth heavy middle 8 allows the song to breathe before exploding once more.
The 3 songs that appeared on their Summer Now EP fit well into the confines of the album. Sweat continues to sizzle over a down and dirty electro-fuzz beat; Lotion (set over a bubbling bouncy beat) is a deliciously seductive & suggestive tune ("Come rub some lotion on me"); while 8 Ball is a more grinding, club driven tune with a refrain that sticks in your head for days.
The brilliantly titled Shoplift Your Love keeps the energy levels high, perfect for balmy nights where good times and dancing flow naturally like cheap wine. It crescendos and grows until it pulsates & takes on a life of it's own, so powerful and intoxicating are it's throbbing beats. Unfriend is a commentary on the modern day social networking phenomenon, how it becomes almost impossible to shake off those people you don't want in your life. Their vocals on this track really shine, letting the world know they can sing, carry a melody and know how to deliver the perfect pop performance. I love how the album comes full circle from Genius to Stupid - while lyrically it details how to make drinks, musically it's an explosive package that gallops along at a million miles an hour. It's littered with resounding beats, swirling synths and a delirious middle 8 breakdown that draws on eastern influences and has wicked fast handclaps propelling it to the final bonkers chorus run through. Listen once, catch your breath and find yourself diving back for more.
And that last statement is definitely true for the whole album - utterly enjoyable, very likeable and more rewarding with each consecutive listen. Amaze.
Escort Knights ~ Escort Knights:
Arise Escort Knights of the realm and be rewarded for your services to music, for your debut album is an absolute modern day classic. For those of you not in the know, Escort Knights are a Leeds based band who take influences from indie acts and 90s house, merging them together to create a magnificent fusion of sounds. Their debut album is drenched in their contaigious energy and filled with blinding choruses, fuzzy guitars, shuffling beats and whipsmart lyrics. This is evident right from the get go when the album launches into being with their brilliant song, Contagious - the song is just that with a soaring beat and an addictive chorus that explodes with the joy of just being. And their creativity shines with an incredibly clever and wonderful video clip accompanies it made by the fine folks at Shot By Sodium (above). An exhilarating start and the ride just gets better...
Showgirl is an instantly snappy, polished pop tune filled with falsetto vocals, a shimmering beat and a genius middle 8 that showcases some delicious piano riffs before the layered instrumentation kicks in again. Heartstrings is a blistering assault on the senses. Amidst the swirling and somewhat hypnotic Daft Punk-esque synths, there is an insistent (and persistent) beat, combined with some gorgeous 90s house-piano chords and intoxicating sound effects. Add to this distinctive vocals and a chorus that worms it's way into your synapses and refuses to leave and you've got an audio thrill from start to finish. This is followed by what was their debut single (I Don't Know Your Name) which still sounds fresh and funky 2 years after I first heard it. It's a song that actually tells an entire story so paying close attention to the lyrics is well worth your while...
More piano infused magic continues to be represented on Sunset Boulevard - perhaps their most summery sounding song on the album. It conjours up vivid images and weaves some beach boy-inspired layered harmonies into the mix that give the song a classic feel. I love how the middle 8 is allowed to breathe with a guitar solo that gives the song an almost dangerous edge. Another potential manifests itself with the sterling Finally Learnt My Lesson. A thrusting, propulsive beat coupled with a plaintive vocal delivery give this song a real emotive feel, while the light, melodic verses are a nice contrast to the more aggressive, contrite chorus.
It may be a daring move to cover Kiss From A Rose, but it's a gamble that pays off. It completely reinvents the song as a rave-esque anthem and completely works. This is followed by a quartet of solid, engaging pop tunes that focus heavily on melody, relatable lyrics and chorus refrains that refuse to quit. Our Turn shines as perhaps one of the most optimistic, hope filled tracks on the album and you can easily imagine this being played loud at festivals across the summer, with the audience willingly chanting the lyrics back. It all too soon (and aptly) comes to a close with Leave Me Wanting More - another anthemic song that has the potential to put Escort Knights on a level playing field with big name acts like Coldplay, Keane and Razorlight. A genuinely stunning debut effort that shows promise and potential for a long career ahead.
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