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Review
Kimberley Rew's ringing, choppy guitar-clang became his calling card in the United States in the '80s, influencing REM and other American indie acts. Closer to home, Rew's group, Katrina and the Waves, hit the top with their Eurovision Song Contest winner, "Love Shine A Light" in 1997. It's a rich but unlikely pedigree.
Essex Hideaway is Rew's fourth solo venture and the second on Bongo Beat Records. Backed by musicians such as keyboardist Don Airey and drummer Dave Mattocks, it's his most personal outing to date: an elevating celebration of life in all its diversities, as witnessed by Rew. "Be anything you want to be / Psychedelic, folk rock or James Last / Just make sure your records / Aren't buried in the past," he advises on "Tourists Of Insanity", a backward glance at his varied career. Prefaced by a humourous 'hymn' -"Bless This Album", complete with church organ - it's also a very English record, in much the same way as the Kinks' late'60s work.
Rural England is the landmark, hence the album's title. The songs cover some unlikely subjects within the rock pantheon. "Arterial Road" tells the story of A.A. Milne's House at Pooh Corner, which featured in Milne's children's stories and was later bought by the Rolling Stones' very own Tigger, Brian Jones, who died in the swimming pool there.Victorian novelist Jerome K. Jerome even gets a track named after him.
What would the popular author of Three Men In A Boat have made of being immortalised in guitar-heavy rock? He would perhaps have preferredRew's tangential music-hall influences, to the fore on "That Soft Boy" and "Short Smart Haircut". The former is an obvious reference to his earlier job, forging the trademark sound of the Cambridge-based Soft Boys in the post-punk era. On the latter, the Joanna tinkles along to Rew's schoolboy advice about having the right hairstyle to get along in life; there's even a kazoo break.
"Your Mother Was Born In That House" explains, in the words of his father, exactly what it says on the tin. The future Mrs. Rew took her first breath, we learn, "In a first-floor flat / in 1924". It's typical of her son's songwriting; like fellow songsmiths Ray Davies, Wreckless Eric and former bandmate Robyn Hitchcock, Rew has a wry and conversational eye for life's prosaic detail. Never parochial, though, these songs are as expansive as the East Anglian countryside in July. Press play, look to the horizon and fill your lungs with a hearty and reassuring air. --Rob Webb
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3 reviews
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Fun melodic CD from the former Soft Boy and Wave
8 Mar 2007
Format:Audio CD
Got to disagree with the other review here--Kimberly Rew's perfect power pop is every bit as good but different when compared to his former boss in The Soft Boys (Robyn Hitchcock). As with Rew's first two solo albums, this album is filled with infectious hooks and great melodies. My only complaint--it's a bit too short (a bit over 30 minutes)and is a bit of a trifle when compared to Rew's first couple of solo albums.
Personally, I'd love to hear Rew co-write a couple of songs with Hitchcock for any new incarnation of the Soft Boys. Rew may lack the strange edginess of Hitchcock but he more than makes up for it with his great guitar playing and rich melodies. I'd recommend this to fans of the Soft Boys (although keep in mind it's not quite as twisted as anything Robyn comes up with), Katrina and the Waves (Rew's other band where he wrote the best and most effective material)and fans of Paul McCartney, Jason Falkner and power pop.
3 1/2 stars.
Personally, I'd love to hear Rew co-write a couple of songs with Hitchcock for any new incarnation of the Soft Boys. Rew may lack the strange edginess of Hitchcock but he more than makes up for it with his great guitar playing and rich melodies. I'd recommend this to fans of the Soft Boys (although keep in mind it's not quite as twisted as anything Robyn comes up with), Katrina and the Waves (Rew's other band where he wrote the best and most effective material)and fans of Paul McCartney, Jason Falkner and power pop.
3 1/2 stars.
Think sloping facilities...
11 Aug 2009
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Think sloping facilities...
It's no Bible of Bop, but better than 90% of whatever else is out there.
After multiple listens in a row my favorites are
track 2. Phoenixstowe
and track 4. Jerome K Jerome
It's no Bible of Bop, but better than 90% of whatever else is out there.
After multiple listens in a row my favorites are
track 2. Phoenixstowe
and track 4. Jerome K Jerome
1 of 3 people found the following review helpful
a minor gem
5 Oct 2005
Format:Audio CD
A fine eccentric little pop album from former Soft Boy K. Rew. Better than some of Robin Hitchcock's weaker efforts but, alas, not in the league of Hitchcock at his best (then again, who is?). Rew writes fine and interesting pop songs, but will never be quite as good on his own as he was with RH by his side. A must have for true Soft Boys fanatics like myself, but for more tepid fans, I'd stick with the maestro and spend my cash on all of Hitchcocks fine solo albums (many of which are better than his better known work with the Egyptians).
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