Sweden's The Concretes could possibly give The Polyphonic Spree a run for their money in terms of numbers as well as music. Even with a core group of eight musicians they credit 12 more "honorary Concretes" in their sleevenotes. The end product is suitably huge, the fact that one track is called 'Diana Ross' is indicative of the Phil Spector-endorsed Wall Of Sound approach that is all over this debut album. Fronted by singer and lyricist Victoria Bergsman, the group don't always have the ideas to match the vastness of the arrangements. Some songs seem like drippy hippy sentiments crushed by the weight of an oppressive string section. Yet when they get it right - urgent opener 'Say Something New', psychedelic pop nugget 'You Can't Hurry Love' or the emotionally engaging 'Lovin Kind' - they have tunes to triumph above the noise. The closing, stripped-down 'This One's For You' is probably a key to where they should go next. A case for some streamlining perhaps?
Sweden's The Concretes could possibly give The Polyphonic Spree a run for their money in terms of numbers as well as music. Even with a core group of eight musicians they credit 12 more "honorary Concretes" in their sleevenotes. The end product is suitably huge, the fact that one track is called 'Diana Ross' is indicative of the Phil Spector-endorsed Wall Of Sound approach that is all over this debut album. Fronted by singer and lyricist Victoria Bergsman, the group don't always have the ideas to match the vastness of the arrangements. Some songs seem like drippy hippy sentiments crushed by the weight of an oppressive string section. Yet when they get it right - urgent opener 'Say Something New', psychedelic pop nugget 'You Can't Hurry Love' or the emotionally engaging 'Lovin Kind' - they have tunes to triumph above the noise. The closing, stripped-down 'This One's For You' is probably a key to where they should go next. A case for some streamlining perhaps?
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