NeverMann - GentleMann

Buy GentleMann here (Bandcamp)

Overview:

Pop culture's hottest 2D persona (sorry Archer and Flyn Rider), aka NeverMann, has finally dropped his debut album. GentleMann is a glorious journey through the sumptuous sounds of the 80s and 90s music scene, all delivered through the radiant prism of NeverMann's creative eye. At a taut ten tracks, the focus here is on every single song sounding like a chart topper, making this a veritable greatest hits collection that will have you hitting replay hard and often. In a world where discourse is increasingly divided and ugly, the theme of civility and good old fashioned decency radiates from every lyric. It is actually what makes the album a refreshing change - a throwback to the likes of Stevie Wonder and Luther Vandross, delivered via sensuous sax riffs and addictive guitar lines. With hooks a-plenty and beats that make you want to grab the one you love and shimmy, this is an opus that stands outside current musical trends and becomes instantly timeless as a result. Turn up those shirt sleeves with the precision of Peter Buttigieg, buckle up those braces and get ready for an elegant yet rollicking good time.

Longer read:

• GentleMann (intro) ~ Not since ABBA's I Am The City has a song encapsulated the intoxicating sounds of the hustle and bustle with such musical finesse. A vibrant saxophone solo seamlessly infuses itself into the background chatter and traffic noise, conjuring up cinematic images as powerful as any late night 80s soap montage. What it does is set the scene for what is to follow, inviting you into a world that has an energy and exciting frisson to it. Like Alice down the rabbit hole you willing dive right in...
• Jody ~ electrifying guitar and a thrilling beat thrusts you into the heart of GentleMann's city life; Prince-esque percussive blasts add to the excitement of the music whilst NeverMann sings of the all-encompassing allure of the object of his affections. He clearly has a passion for the synth-fuelled 80s power pop hits that pulsed through radio airwaves and have remained indelible to this very day. This stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the best of them.
• All 4 U ~ this soaring nu-retro wave gem eloquently conveys the pervasive (and persuasive) nature of the world's greatest emotion (love) and how it can come from nowhere to infuse your soul with passion and desire. There is a sense of wide eyed wonder in NeverMann's singing, a contagious gratitude that (even through the difficult times) pure amour has entered his life. He soars as he sings the titular refrain, a euphoric hook that feels like it is the climatic musical moment to every John Hughes movie ever made.
• Andrea ~ here, NeverMann continues to wear his musical influences, like his heart, on his sleeve yet makes the music feel fresh thanks to his emotive vocal and nuanced insight into the passion of the lyrics. Shades of Berlin and The Police infuse the song with a pop pedigree that instantly immerses the listener into the intricate score. Throw in a sax solo that Kenny G would kill for and you have an evocative mid-tempo anthem for the ages.
• Used 2 B ~ as someone who fell hard for the quiet storm r&b grooves of the 1990s, their influences are hugely appreciated here. Chiming synths and heartfelt singing combine to unveil the melancholy of memories gone by; the pathos of those moments which can never be recaptured. While there is a soulful sadness to NeverMann's voice you feel that his singing of his blues only helps with the healing.
• Cherry Baby ~ from the moment the dime drops in the juke box, you are immersed in the most decadent pop bop you have heard in quite a while. With lyrics as intimate as a diary entry, NeverMann's melodic outpouring is accompanied by dramatic synth riffs and fervent drum rhythms. It makes you feel entirely footloose, as helpless as NeverMann himself, as you submit to this hypnotic vibe.
• The Sun Keeps Shining (ft JJ Mist) ~ if you are seeking a new summer song to add to the likes of Bananarama's Cruel Summer, Belinda's Summer Rain and A'Ha's The Sun Always Shines On TV, you must proceed immediately to this magic potion. Even when skies are grey outside this gorgeous duet will inject the balmy months of summer pop into your life. Hopelessly optimistic, the titular refrain is contagious, while the words conjure up images of sparkling seas and sandy beaches. Essential.
• Celebrate ~ the euphoric endorphin rush of the previous song continues with Celebrate. If it is not either the Kool & The Gang song or a remake of Madonna's 2009 hit then it better have joyous jubilation at the heart of it. While it surprises with a simmering mid-tempo metronome, it absolutely lifts your spirits through insightful lyrics, a chorus that flies past 7th heaven to reside on cloud 9 and a thoughtful production that keeps the dopamine flowing to your brain. Deserves to be number one for a month.
• Acquired Taste (ft Groove Actually) ~ one more whirl around the dancefloor as the album draws to a close. This has such disco opulence woven into the fabric of the instrumental that you can almost visualise Liza Minnelli doing poppers in the corner with Dan Hartman. NeverMann opines that you might find him an acquired taste, but I'd argue his musical meanderings are pretty darn hard to resist - and he needs to change for no-one. 
• GentleMann (Outro) ~ and thus, we come full circle, one final glitter ball romp through the lingering aura of Acquired Taste. It is like walking home through the abandoned city in the wee hours of the morning, still high on the evening's adventures and ready - nay giddy - to repeat it all again as soon as possible.