The Velvet Hearts – Into the World Album Review
Full Length Release from British Blues Rockers
Mar 18, 2009
Finally! A group with the talent and the guts to pull off rich, melodic, harmonised vocals, full-bodied acoustic numbers and big blues rock that has long, long been missing from the British music scene.
With The Velvet Hearts' release of full length album Into the World, the plaintive wailing of a plethora of pouting, skinny jeaned indie kid rock stars is firmly told it is past its bedtime. This is serious, grown up, pedigree musicianship, with key American influences that are also indebted to a healthy dose of cheeky British attitude.
So who are The Velvet Hearts? The band is fronted by acoustic guitarist and lead vocalist John James Newman, son of Marmalade frontman Sandy Newman. Steve Jones plays keyboard and saxophone (he also plays with jazz blues songstress Elkie Brooks). Meanwhile Jamie Bruce provides backing vocals, with Quest Quinton on electric guitar, Lidia Cascarino-Close on bass and Oliver Richmond-Jones on drums.
‘Disappearing Boy’ and ‘Talk’ – Bond Themes and Kick Ass Rock
The record kicks off with the delicious ‘Disappearing Boy’. Newman’s rich voice presides over a gentle opening that establishes at the outset a precocious talent for pitch perfect, ever so slightly gravely vocals. Pumping percussion and guitars lift the pace as the track swells into verse two. Quinton’s guitar solo injects a kind of lazy brilliance just before Jones’ distinctive keyboard interlude signals a change of pace and tone resulting in a total 007 Bond theme if ever there was one.
‘Talk’, a heavier, grinding guitar track takes position two, with some almighty percussion, guitar riffs and hooks galore. Alternating acoustic sections vary the pace and volume, adding a number of feathers to The Velvet Hearts’ cap. This is a blazing example of the Hearts doing some kick butt hard rock with a thumping, pulse raising rush to boot.
‘Build One for Me’, ‘Soul Sister’ and Norah Jones
Another change of pace, with ‘Build One For Me’ marking a softer sound, yet another style that the boys do damn good. Jones’ saxophone solos take a more central role here, over a rushing gentle acoustic line.
Meanwhile it’s Americana all the way with ‘Soul Sister’. Think Norah Jones meets the Red Hot Chilli Peppers and that’s not far off the general tone. Gorgeous melodic lines from Newman, harmonies from Bruce and Jones’ sublime keyboards, all perfectly arranged and balanced, make this one of the richest, softest slower numbers on the album, and possibly one of the beautiful overall.
Addictive melodies – ‘Serotonin’
Equally sublime is the awesome ‘Serotonin’. Newman’s vocals and the ridiculously addictive meolodic line take on a slightly more pensive, possessive quality in this varied roller coaster of a track which regularly proves to be one of the band’s most popular live songs. Quinton’s crunching guitars take over with Richmond-Jones’ percussion kicking in for a more powerful chorus between dazzling, keyboard heavy verses. Is there anything this band can’t do?
Country Influences and Hard Rock ‘n’ Roll
A beautiful, rushing, country blues rock acoustic mid-section marks a high point in this accessible and good old fashioned soft rock track. Apparently, this is Newman’s and possibly the fans’ least favourite track, which ought to give some idea of the overall quality of the album, since this is by no means a poor neighbour on the record.
Quinton’s guitars and Newman’ s vocal versatility come into their own in this pumping, hard rock ‘n’ roll track, similar in tone and feel to ‘Talk’. The band prove, yet again, an extraordinary knack for musical timing and variety of pace, as Jones’ takes the mid-section with a saxophone solo that is in danger of converting a reluctant Indie Suite over to the instrument permanently. Swines.
Not Average Heartbreak Music
TVH mid-range is established, with ‘Broken’ and ‘History Repeating’ both slower, more poignant tracks. A more mournful string is added to the Hearts’ bow in ‘Broken’, which as it suggests, is about love, heartbreak, and all that typical best-selling album fodder.
The Hearts have a gift for not hamming up the lyrical cheese too much, and as a result this is genuine, softer and more real than average break-up music. ‘Into The World’ is equally moving, and builds to a gorgeous string-swelled climax for the album’s penultimate track.
Ska Funk Conclusion
‘Roadhouse’ instantly brings to mind the ska-filled sounds of The Specials’ ‘Ghost Town’ as TVH prove once again the myriad influences from which they draw on this eclectic yet entirely cohesive record. The eerie whispers, ska funk rhythms, and another of Jones’ spotlight moments on the sax all clamour for attention. It’s not the best track on the album but it does bring it to a close with a bang.
Verdict
Indie Suite was totally floored after discovering this band live, and the album is no less impressive. The Velvet Hearts have an extraordinary versatility, and a knack for perfect arrangements and killer timing. The melodies are amongst the most addictive you are ever likely to hear and they’re brave in terms of variety and pace.
Though it would be nice to hear a little more of the delicious cockney twang they employ to such effect live making more of an appearance on the album, Indie Suite emphatically recommends The Velvet Hearts' Into the World as THE undiscovered musical find of this spring, and perhaps even 2009.
Into the World is out now, and available on iTunes and CDBaby. Visit The Velvet Hearts’ website for free downloadable tracks.
Related Reading
Check out Indie Suite’s live review of The Velvet Hearts.
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