NEWS
EVENTS
Eugene McGuinness: The Invitation To The Voyage
Indie | Tuesday 21st August 2012 | Osh
We’ve all been there. Someone at your school/work/book club acquires a new, daring look. Weeks later, you make your first move, subtlety being the key here, and slowly put the pieces together to imitate the pioneering individual. Now, I wasn’t present for the recording of Miles Kane’s debut album, but I’d imagine such a scenario took place here, for the result is a new, streamlined, and incredibly suave Eugene McGuinness.
Miles’ former guitarist, rarely seen with a hair out of place, is back with his second studio album The Invitation To The Voyage, a follow up to 2008’s self titled debut. Other work includes a 2007 EP and an album released with his band Eugene + The Lizards.
First track ‘Harlequinade’ (not a rock & roll cocktail as I had hoped, but an actual thing) delivers an uncompromising introduction into what could be one of the best records of the year. With a catchy riff, a video containing ticker tape, bubbles and balloons, and some truly inspired, if not confusing lyrics, “come cobra charmer and crash my gate, trick or treater swindle me some MDMA”, the track has all the necessities for an excellent opener.
The infectious “go go”, “aah-aah”, and “m-m-m-maaaaaze” of the superb ‘Lion’ make you feel like the worlds luckiest backing vocalist and the stand out ‘Shotgun’ demonstrates lyrical and musical experience of an artist far older than Eugene’s twenty six years. Electronic elements can be found throughout the album, and are used alongside string instruments and nursery rhyme-esque drum rolls on the anthemic ‘Concrete Moon’, a slower song that shows off the album’s varying styles.
Replace the lyrics to any early 60s love song with the “I love you” ramblings of drunken best friends, and you’ll end up with something akin to penultimate track ‘Joshua’. Sandwiched between the “laaa dee daaa’s” and “all I wanna do’s” is a catchy guitar segment over which Eugene howls “my word is yours”, the result can best be described as a potential James Bond theme tune (pre Duran-Duran era of course).
Eugene is currently half way through a four gig tour in London and will be performing in Paris in September. Be sure to look out for a support slot when Miles Kane announces his tour for his second album.
By Gareth Davies
