The Pearlfishers “Making Tapes for Girls”
Scottish multi-instrumentalist and vocalist David Scott has an unusual talent as a composer and arranger for making what is a labor of love appear easy. Since the 1990s, under the direction of Scott, The Pearlfishers have been releasing excellent adult pop music in the vein of Neil Diamond, Todd Rundgren, and Brian Wilson. ‘Making Tapes for Girls’, their most recent album, continues in the same contemplative vein as 2019’s ‘Love and Other Hopeless Things.’
The topic reflects David’s deep appreciation for melancholy and breakup music; as the title track explores his need to share his favorite music on cassette tape mixes for girls. “I didn’t know how to say the right thing/so I left it to Joni and Paul,” he says. It’s a beautiful, wistful melody that then leads into “Kisses on the Window,” a bittersweet breakup song, that tugs at those same feelings.
Another gem, “Put The Baby In The Milk,” boasts great chord shifts akin to Carole King, with a gorgeous chorus. Other songs here take a few spins to sink in, but they do make a positive impression. Check out “Hold Out for a Mystic” and “The Word Evangeline.” While not everything hits, David’s unique lyrical spin and meticulous song construction make these tunes special. Highly Recommended.
The Embyros “Selling What You Want To Buy”
It’s only a few years from ‘National Absurdatory’ but this sounds like a new band to me. Tighter arrangements like the guitar rhythms and subtle spacey harmonies of “Fortunes” have replaced earlier loose, funky material. The power pop of “Frozen City” has a slight DIY feel, but it’s got some really sweet accents in the chorus, and then the style changes and it’s all ’90s Neo-Psychedelia with “Little Demon.” This is a great tune that has a vibe similar to early-era Dandy Warhols.
The band bounces around stylistically, but some songs stand out. The ’80s-styled dance tunes “He’s A Hypocrite” and “Do The Donkey” are okay, but the band really shines on the melodic “Somehow She Knew” and the bass-lead melody “I’m a Man.” The moody jams “The Embyos Live” and the epic “Onandonandon,” which is over eight minutes long, serve as the album’s bookends. There are just enough gems here to earn “highly recommended” status.