the freelANCE HELLRAISER - WAITING FOR CLEARANCE
WELL, SEEMS LIKE THERE ARE PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT AREN'T PREPARED TO LET GO OF THE HISTORY BOOKS. YOU SEE, A RECENT TRAWL OF THE MONTHLIES REVEALED THAT SOME SECTIONS OF THE DANCE PRESS WERE LAYING INTO THIS DEBUT ALBUM PROPER BY THE PREVIOUS MASHUP MONSTER, THE FREELANCE HELLRAISER. WELL, THEY AINT HEARING THE SAME ALBUM AS ME. OF COURSE I UNDERSTAND THAT THOSE WHO WANT MORE OF THE GENIUS IDEAS THAT WENT INTO CREATING THE FIRST WAVE OF BOOTLEG CHAOS ARE GOING TO HAVE TROUBLE LISTENING TO AN ALBUM OF SMOOTHLY PRODUCED POP-DANCE-ROCK, BUT, I HAVE NO SUCH TROUBLES. I LOVE A SONG AND I LOVE A GROOVE, AND IF SOMEONE MAnages to put these two components together in such a way that my head spins and my emotions are taken on a ride, then i'm a happy man. so, given his well connected history (what no paul macartney guesting !), the freelancer has put together quite a team in the studio. the studio/vocal lineup involved reads like a whos who of the modern world, hugo nicholson, james banbury for us credit checking nerds, jacknife lee (from compulsion to u2 in 547 easy moves), and even an appearance by 80's synth hero jan hammer, with extra vocals by bloke out of snow patrol and freelance himself.
so, with all this experience, it's no wonder that these songs are a mixture of upbeat, joyful, hands in the air sunrise anthems, 'send me', post-baggy grooves, 'waves' is a straight up happy mondays/primal scream homage, and outright proper pop, 'you can cry all you want' (which in the opening 30 seconds does come over as a boy band, until the backing kicks in properly), and a mellow laid back moby styled sample loop, 'want you to know'. as expected amongst the real band sonics there has to be a couple of full on dance beasts, and for the album its all about 'can't hide' with its electro throb, manic over-the-top guitar solo and massive grin inducing tubular bells. corny ? too fucking right. pink floyd via mike oldfield with a strapping chemical bros bassline : and i love it.
oh, and i haven't even told you about the car-stereo threatening 'we dont belong' with the most addictive peter hook styled bassline and euphoric melody rush, the beautiful lovelorn piano, tambourine and warm harmonies of 'the sweetest noise'.
if there is anyone out there, like me, who craves for more fun pop-rock-techno based music like apollo 440 used to excel at, then the freelance hellraiser album is for you, if you want the latest up to date micro genre of seriousness, then steer clear, cos this is an album to be enjoyed and listened to, not just chin strokingly appreciated from afar.
extras : interview