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Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds
Gallagher goes ape with the help of DJ/Producer David Holmes.
No wonder Noel looked so cosy singing 'We Got The Power' alongside new-ish bosom buddy Damon Albarn on the Graham Norton Show last May; there are no cartoon surrogates here, but WBTM's multi-guest genre-hopping mash-up is very Gorillaz.
It's lovely to hear the former Mr Magnolia go Technicolor on these (mostly) psych-pop songs, and co-conspirator David Holmes determination to up the beats-per-minute and positivity has definitely helped Gallagher shake off the cobwebs.
Though some things will never change (Messrs Weller and Marr - or Uri Geller and Har Mar Superstar, as Liam calls them - both appear, and 'Be Careful What You Wish For' clearly wants to be 'Come Together'), the Serge Gainsbourg-like instrumental interlude ('Wednesday Part 1') and electro-pop winners 'It's A Beautiful World' and 'She Taught Me How To Fly' are invigorating departures.
James McNair
Source: Mojo Magazine