There’s talk of lyrics about Noel. There’s talk that it’s the most far out Liam’s gone since he gave up sandbag-sized portions of illegal substances up his conk. There’s talk that there’s a guest vocal from Justin Bieber, now Liam’s a confirmed Belieber (OK, there isn’t that). But there are a heck of a lot of questions about what Beady Eye’s second album, ‘BE’, out June 10, contains. I had an early listen to find out what’s what…
This, you’ll know. You’ll know that it’s probably the furthest out Liam’s gone, musically, since ‘Be Here Now’. But it’s rather more enjoyable – brass from the people who do brass for Spiritualized and Primal Scream, spoken word bit read out by, erm, Fonejacker, this really is something new. As is Liam’s voice – mixed high and dry through the album, it sounds like he’s been gargling honey since the throat-rip ‘Different Gear, Still Speeding’ sessions.
Listeners might be expecting the floodgates to open after ‘Flick Of The Finger’, which guitarist Gem Archer has called the “calling card” of the band’s new era. However, ‘Soul Love’ is restrained, despite a world of sounds from producer Dave Sitek bubbling under the sinister chords. Muffled shotgun sounds and velvet-y organ presses whip up a feeling of intense mystery as Liam croons, “Get up off your knees my friend, promise never to pretend you’re the apple of my eye, spread your wings and learn to fly.” We’re a long way from ‘Four Letter Word’ here.
On which the first truly big riff kicks in. And boy does it kick in – right from the off, then repeats, non-stop, relentlessly as this Beatles-y burble careers along. Liam sings of “playing to the gallery when you know it’s time to face the crowd” over Stonesy handclaps, with a Zeppy wig-out from Gem Archer. There’s just enough time for a space-rock outro so we all know Sitek’s still in control, though…
With its gloomy, clickety-clackety percussion and more echo than your average airplane storage facility, somewhat brilliantly, second single ‘Second Bite Of The Apple’ sounds like something plucked from Eels’ back catalogue. It debuted last night (April 29), listen below:
