These days, Noel Gallagher’s almost – almost – as renowned for his ferociously dry sense of humour as he is for his massive canon of stadium-filling anthems. Sounding off in interviews about Ed Sheeran, Alex Turner, the weird artifice of ‘90s music videos and everything in between, it’s a side of him that’s celebrated alongside his music: the sharp-tongued truth-teller whose comments on the state of modern music are as funny as his songs are infectious. He’s a funny guy, Noel – which makes you wonder whether the title of his latest solo album, ‘Chasing Yesterday’, is a bit of a sly joke, poking fun at his detractors.
As I wrote back in November, when the album’s arena-ready lead single ‘In The Heat Of The Moment’ dropped, the 47-year-old has gone from ‘Standing On The Shoulders Of Giants’ to living in one’s inescapable shadow: wherever he goes, whatever he does, it’s inevitably measured against his seismic achievements in Oasis. Nothing he does as a solo artist, his critics argue, could possibly match up. He’s clinging on to glory days that are long over. Living in the past. Chasing yesterday.
The more you listen to ‘Chasing Yesterday’ though, the more brilliantly tongue-in-cheek this title seems, because this is Noel at his most forward-thinking yet, striding confidently into exciting new territory. Alright, so it’s not Flying Lotus. But it does see the former Oasis chief stretch the desert gaze of his 2011 solo debut into strange noir sleaze, soul-filled psych in the vein of classic Primal Scream and horns right out of the Rolling Stones’ ‘Bitch’ school of strutting brass. The official NME review drops in the middle of February so look out for that. Until then, here’s a track-by-track preview…
’The Riverman’
Noel’s already described this opener as “summoned from a smoky room in 1963… It’s fucking amazing. It’s my favourite track on the album, and one of my favourites I’ve ever done.” Sure enough, it’s a swampy treasure full of lusting lyrics (“there’s something in the way she moves me to distraction”) and acoustic jangles that simmers towards a saxophone solo climax like something out of a murky detective movie montage.
’In The Heat Of The Moment’
You’ve heard this one. This lead single still sounds as big as it did in November 2014, going for the indie-rock-sing-along jugular with a chorus so huge Noel probably had to apply to his local council for planning permission.
‘The Girl with X-Ray Eyes’
A howling, melancholic epic with massive echoes of ‘Hotel California’, with typically Noel lyrics: “she swallowed space and time… she shot me to the sun, like a bullet from a gun.” Cinematic and sprawling, it’s not unlike 2011 single ‘If I Had A Gun’.
’Lock All The Doors’
Oasis die-hards are going to go nuts for this one. Gallagher first started working on the track 23 years ago. Its ‘Be Here Now’-era fizz of guitars are more than worth the wait here, powering to a stomping adrenaline-packed finale.
’The Dying Of The Light’
The pace drops for this “grandiose… uplifting and beautiful track,” as Noel described it to NME in November. “Woke up stinking on a train that was bound for Norway,” Gallagher sings over maudlin piano. “I tried my best to get there but I can’t afford the bus fare.”
’The Right Stuff’
You know that strutting brass I mentioned? This jazzy, lightly psychedelic jam is the album’s most far-out moment, full of crazed stabs of saxophone, bluesy distorted guitar and drugged grooves. “Are you the devil with a heart of gold?” asks Noel, bolstered by female backing singers.
’While The Song Remains The Same’
Opening with a Brian Eno-ish synth odyssey, this is another Sergio Leone spaghetti western soundtrack killer, like ‘The Riverman’. “We can dance beneath the fire flies on an empty road,” suggests Noel over a shuffling beat and spooky guitar echoes.
’The Mexican’
“You need love just like a kid on crack,” booms Noel over cowbell and Josh Homme-inspired riff, “I got a feeling that what I want is holding you back.” A sleazy LSD-fuelled ‘60s freak-out.
’You Know We Can’t Go Back’
Sparkling guitars chime over airy synths before – what’s this?! – a four minute blast of Springsteen pop-rock, unfurled over breathless drums. The album’s cheeriest moment, Noel sounds like he’s having a tonne of fun, swapping swagger for buoyant, celebratory melodies. “Maybe I believe in magic love, find it in the moon and stars above,” he cries.
’Ballad of The Mighty I’
You’ll have heard this one too. An emphatic closer, driven by a sinister bass line, over which guest guitarist Johnny Marr slings crunching chords, its strings and determined chorus calls (“yes I’ll find you!”) make for an intriguing finale.
Everything we know so far about ‘Chasing Yesterday’
Noel Gallagher’s 50 funniest quotes
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