OK. Mindfilming presents ten very good pop songs in that broad and classic English tradition established by mid-career Lennon and McCartney. It has never been radically fashionable, but it has never gone away because a lot of people cherish the simple virtues of well made, hand finished, individual songs with a pop group sort of a sound. I don’t think Simon Bristoll and Daz Battersby (for these are The Captain in question) would be insulted by my mentioning Gilbert O'Sullivan, Leo Sayer, Martin Newell, Andy Partridge or Squeeze. These are the old-timer exponents of the broad school of songwriting and mainstream pleasure-giving tunesmithery that come to this ancient reviewers battered finger ends as he types in time to their agreeably chirpy stuff.
The heart of the CAPTAIN WILBERFORCE thing is acoustic guitar accompaniment to clever songs, filled out in style with home-generated synths, a rhythm section and extra vocal tracks as required. "A Very British Earthquake" sets out the pre-Mystery tour Bealtesy agenda at track one. "After Her" is short and bitter-sweet. "Glass" features a soaring melody after a David Ball-like synthy intro. "I Haven't Got Any Famous Friends" is a happy march tune - simple, neat and true with Fountains of Wayne echoes. "Mindfilming" has a familiar acoustic intro (I'll remember where it comes from one day), with string synth and maybe too many words. It is the centre of the album, but for me it’s a a social observation that isn't as sharp as it need s to be to meet its considerable and painstakingly produced ambition.
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"No Guarantees" and "Singer Wanted, Preferably Dead" are maybe songs that makes people mention Radiohead – but they shouldn’t really. Not unless you think that Thom Yorke is the only Brit since the Beatles to write classic pop songs about interesting subjects for people over the age of 14. It's a broad and simple church we're in, and Captain Wilberforce are way better than many.
"Teaching You To Swim" is back into Squeeze territory. It's terse and simple with neat bass playing.
"The Incredible Commuting Mole (Must Die)" says "quirky-ish". But in an endearing and definitely unscary way. It has some cute electric guitar parts and the dead giveaway line "California here I come" sung with (gues what?) clever harmonies.
So, as I said, OK. Very nice even. Definitely too anodyne for current fashionable tastes, but introduced by a friend you trust, I have a feeling (if you're still with me) that you would get along very well with the Captain. Just let it sit on the CD player (CD Baby's on the case, by the way) and don’t leap in too quick because it isn't The Dirtbombs or the MC5. I t could sneak up you like it did on me.
www.captainwilberforce.com (well, what else would it be?)
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