LP Review, October 2007, iDJ MagazineNeon Heights
You Make Love To Robots And You Wonder What People Are For
Bocajito Records (UK), BOCACD005
Nottingham's Neon Heights have always been one of those acts capable of
flashes of brilliance. Consider their 1999 downtempo anthem '16 Again' or
their inspired, Rob Da Bank-endorsed cover of The Jam's 'That's
Entertainment'. Yet for all the highs, they've yet to fully realise their
potential. 2005's 'A Hot Trip To Heaven' album was certainly very good, but
perhaps not quite the breakthrough set many expected. So what of 'You Make
Love To Robots', their third long-player could this be their 'next level'
moment? Perhaps. It's certainly their strongest and most cohesive set yet, a
lazy stroll through soulful pastures that benefits enormously from their
graduation to a fully-fledged live band. 'You Make Love To Robots' has an
infectious warmth: all deep bass, cosy Rhodes (provided by the brilliant
Tom Bailey) and sympathetic guitars. What really sets the album apart from
its predecessors, though, is the consistency of the songs on offer. From the
disco-funk fun of 'Love Hound' to the jaunty 'Dreaming' via three brilliant
J Todd collaborations, there's little in the way of filler. By the time the
breathtakingly Balearic closer 'A Beautiful Thing' comes around, you're left
in no doubt that Neon Heights are the finished article. Their moment may
have finally arrived.
4/5
Matt Anniss LP Review Mixmag, Oct 07 NEON HEIGHTS
YOU MAKE LOVE TO ROBOTS AND WONDER WHAT PEOPLE ARE FORIs that James Taylor? In Mixmag? Is it really the king of 60s easy listening
guitar whose Fire And Rain is sampled on the first track of this album, an
artist even Lemon Jelly's Fred Deakin might shy away from? Yes indeed, but
what follows is a lot less surprising: a little bit of hip hop, a bit of
soul, a whole lot of groovy jazz. In fact there is a a definite George
Benson vibe to this offering, though thankfuly there's no sax. In this
context, the polemic 'Pray For New Orleans' sounds strangely out of place,
like meeting Che Guevara sipping Manhattans in a rooftop cocktail bar. If
you have a soft spot for Sade and black polo necks worn under a suit jacket,
you'll love this.Three stars
BURN Walked OUt This Morning, A Beautiful Thing
LIKE THIS TRY Common 'Finding Forever'
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