With stints in both The La's and The Lightning Seeds behind him, and the continued success of his own co-owned Viper Label, it was only a matter of time until Paul Hemmings surfaced as a solo artist. Fittingly for a man who made his name as a guitarist, this self produced and reassuringly lo-fi debut is divided roughly fifty-fifty into instrumentals and guest vocalist tracks, managing to nod to Hemmings' past and touch on a number of other influences while remaining distinctively his own work.
The first and most welcome surprise here is that Hemmings hasn't fallen into the gaping trap of attempting to imitate the pop perfectionism of his two former bandleaders. Instead, he has managed to concoct something of a more intriguing, experimental nature than either band managed, perhaps aiming squarely at the discerning home listener rather than the 'Britpop' leftovers he could lazily have targeted. The repetitive guitars and feedback of opener "Into The Light" announce the rough and ready feel of the album and from hereon in it becomes an ever wobblier stew of old drum machines, omni-directional guitars, psyched out vocals and a continuous search for something beyond the listeners' expectations.
To start on familiar ground, two tracks here, "500 Elephants" and "The Manipulator" see Space's Tommy Scott handed the mic, with outstanding results. Both are laced with a whirling, couldn't-give-a-fuck psychedelia whilst simultaneously retaining a Residents-esque grating, almost punk quality that prevents them or the listener ever wandering too far from the point. The relentless "500 Elephants" in particular displays Scott's knack for both the sublime and the subliminal, whilst "Manipulator"'s flanged drums, gorgeous atmospheric guitar bedding and "you're just a fucking Darth Vader" lyric seems to take the Space ethic further than it's been before with Hemmings' music providing something far less 'pop' and more in tune with the lyricist's familiar standpoint.
Elsewhere, both Marina Van Rooy(8 Prodcutions) and Robby Stevenson ( The Hokum Clones) put in guest vocal appearances: Van Rooy providing a well timed bubblegum counterpoint to the albums more cerebral moments on "Sunshine Girl", whilst Stevenson's throaty deliver lies buried somewhere within the clattering "Situation Blues".
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Of the instrumental tracks, "Passing Satellites" and "Floatation" are the most immediately striking. The former is a lush organ driven bossanova drone, somehow reminiscent of Richard D James' "Selected Ambient Works Vol II", while the latter an echo laden, delay hungry guitar piece, and the only thing here which bares any passing comparison to The La's (for anyone seeking to revive the feelings of an early nineties summer afternoon). "Re-Emergence" also catches the ear and, as with its fellow instrumentals, provides an antidote to the vocal tracks which have gone before, a tracking order trick the album pulls several times, adding to the feel of a continuously mutating, multi artist project - very refreshing in these overly sanitised days with albums tending to contain 12 similarly tinged, precisely over-produced tracks.
The overall feeling of this album is that it has no overall feeling, more a common or shared direction. A set of tracks given the same start and end point and asked to find their own way there. Veering between knowingly fragile and bullishly confident, it throws the listener from one mood to another, via a familiar voice and through a couple we might be new to, inevitably leaving him or her dazed, confused and requiring another listen. In my experience, though, this effect sticks, no matter how often you hear it - some songs become instantly recognisable, others still seem brand new on the tenth play.
As I mentioned earlier, this may not be the place to look for anyone hoping for a "Timeless Melody" or a "Life of Riley", but for those with more inquisitive and eclectic tastes, it makes as perfect an accompaniment to falling asleep at the end of a long day as it does to waking up and putting the kettle on at the start of a fresh one.
Available from www.the-viper-label.co.uk if you ask nicely.
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