The Telephone Numbers is first and foremost a great name for a group. And this is a very lovely song that makes me want to hear more from this particular band. They're from San Francisco, which is apt, because I'm still delighting in hearing the new album from Cool Ghouls, another band from that part of the world, last Friday. But while The Ghouls seem more intent on stirring happy memories of Haight Ashbury and The Byrds, The Telephone Numbers appear to have their feet set firmly in the mid-Eighties and the C-86 sound, although that scene too was one that was immersed in revivalism and memories of ... yup The Byrds, as well of course as Buzzcocks.
Anyhow, The Telephone Numbers do what they do very well. They 'ring' if you'll excuse, or even if you won't excuse, the pun. They can also play, in a way that many of those first C-86 bands couldn't. You're Nowhere comes on initially like a song from one of the first couple of Julian Cope albums, then goes on to remind me of Grant and Amanda harmonising with The Go Between. It's Right Here. Another wonderful song that looked back, to be in the here and now, while looking forward to future's promise.
The lyrics here may talk of sadness but the tune only reminds me of happiness. It's heavenly. It's sunny. It's lovely. It's love. It's one of the best songs I've heard in a year where there has already been so much to love music wise. Let's hope The Telephone Numbers have anything in their saddle bag or in the works that is anything like as good as this. Why shouldn't they on this evidence. In their own words, 'What's life without some kindness...' Yes indeed.
No comments:
Post a Comment