Lucky Elephant :'Edgar'/'Lucky Elephant'
Released: 5th July 2009
Label: Sunday Best
Ah, Summer is here. I know this to be true because: 1) The Tube has started to smell like the aftermath of a sumo wrestlers' orgy 2) After spending 0.7 seconds outside today I am, inevitably, the colour of a deeply embarrassed lobster and 3) The "Summer Songs" are emerging. And I have in my ears two cracking examples, "Edgar" and "Lucky Elephant", the double A-side from the band Lucky Elephant.
"Edgar" is a wonderfully bouncy pop ditty with a distinct flavour of Badly Drawn Boy. It's held together by a joyous piano/guitar riff; a slice of calypso that you'll be whistling until people want to punch you in the head. Add to this a Wurlitzer and an organ and you've got yourself a perfect boozy summer fete of a sound. The vocals, sung by Frenchman 'Manu' Labescat, may grate on some but I think his heavily accented drawl only adds to the record's breezy and slightly surreal charm. If your not too pissed-up to notice there's some sparkling poetry to his lyrics, "In his right hand the Sun/In the other one/The snow flakes to sing/".
The second track, "Lucky Elephant", is an instrumental that's so summery it gives you a tan. Reminiscent of Lemon Jelly at their best the track is layered from gleaming little samples and melodies. Honky-Tonk pianos, synth bass, pithy guitar and clinking bottles create a richness of sound that's pure Vitamin D. The melody and rhythm is again heavily influenced by calypso and with a hint of dub thrown in for good measure. If listening to this doesn't crack a smile check your pulse, you're either dead or work in marketing. Along with a bottle of gin and some factor 4000 sun cream this gorgeous little double-A side is an essential for any day spent arseing about in the sunshine.
Words: Harvey Ovenden
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Reply #1 on : Thu July 09, 2009, 13:16:52