Or rather it isn't. In the late 1970s, Andy Partridge of XTC bemoaned the apparent need of the music press to categorise every form of modern music. He argued that we should just enjoy it for what it was and that everything should be just called 'pop', hence the song title above. Although the music press is by no means as powerful as it used to be, what remains of it, as well as the industry as a whole, has become more fragmented, not less. Everything is categorised into genre these days, something which has been exacerbated by the manner in which we consume music online. Playlists on, say Spotify, are often categorised by genre, which makes it easier for artists to be pigeonholed and less likely for restless souls to be heard - I am a Gemini after all.
The Higher Lovers album, as hopefully you will soon discover, has variety coming out of its ears. It's entirely my fault as I grew up on albums like 'Revolver' which contained different genres within the same album. Indeed that was commonplace in those days. Now it is seen as a negative to be too varied, a charge which had been levelled more recently, for example, against albums such as 'Visions Of A Life' by Wolf Alice. I am sure consumers of music like to listen to different genres and this can be by the same artist. Indeed, the derided Coldplay are now being praised for experimentation on 'Everyday Life'. Well, if it works for them, let's view 'Higher Lovers' as an experiment. One which I really hope you come to love.
So, as you venture into these songs you will be greeted by keyboard driven dance tracks, atmospheric keyboards, haunting vocals and wah-wah guitar textures, more straightforward alt guitar rock, pop love songs, raucous railing against the unfairness of the modern world, a shoegazing elegy to a dead lover, New York funk and you'll then be able to sing your heart out to the closing title track. There is something for nearly everyone contained within. And best of all, it won't be long now...
Comments