Level 42 - Retroglide - Album Review!

Well I say “album review”, but you know what I mean. Like I ever review anything thoroughly.

Professional music critics always use bollocks descriptive words like “organic” and then typically shoehorn music into a genre. If they can’t find one, they’ll make a new one up. Neoclassical-electro-punk-funk etc. I think it probably makes them able to sleep at night knowing that everything has been safely pigeonholed.

Anyway, yesterday I got my copy of the new Level 42 album - Retroglide, slightly ahead of the official release date (which is nice). It’s been about 12 years since Forever Now was released, so it’s been a long wait for us L42 fans.

Over the last month or so, the official site has been putting 45 second snippets online. I wasn’t overly impressed! Was buying tickets to two dates of the Retroglide tour a big mistake?

Hmm let’s see, after a few listens, here’s what I’ve got so far. The tracks standing out for me are The Way Back Home, Just For You and Sleep Talking (conveniently sequential tracks), whereas Clouds, Ship and All I Need strike me as flat bland fillers. I’m hoping Clouds will grow on me though in the same way a previous L42 song - It’s Over did.

Overall, I’d say this is a very organic, mature acid jazz album with shades of mellow retrofunk. Arrrrrrrrgh!!! I have no idea what I’m talking about.

Actually, I’ll quote the great music guru that is Louis Walsh… “I liked it!”. I don’t think it’s going to be a classic L42 album by any means and it’s a shame I don’t instantly love it, but at least I’m looking forward to the live gigs again now.

Russian Lefortovo Tunnel Music

Oh, If you’re particularly curious about the music from the previous Russian Lefortovo Tunnel crash post it’s by Juliet and the track is called Avalon.

I’ve read a few posts about the story behind these tunnel crashes by the way. From what I can make out, the Lefortovo tunnel is one of the world’s longest tunnels. It’s also supposed to be quite a leaky and seems to get quite icy during the winter. Not sure if I believe that though… all the other cars seem to stop quite easily.

Level 42 - Retroglide

So the new Level 42 album is going to be called “Retroglide” then. Hmmm! Sounds like a brand of arse lube to me.

Whatever the name, it better be fookin’ good. Especially since I’ve now got tickets to see them play live, not once, but twice later this year. Bring - it - on!!! All tour dates are on the official L42 website.

Oh, in case yer reading Bra - you STILL da man!! Get in!

A Natural Gambler

Downloaded a Braund Reynolds - “Rocket” mp3 earlier. Fantastic song. Didn’t realise the video for it is even better though. Check this bad boy out!

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