Stylish 60s-influenced British pop recorded with a tight live 4-piece band boasting some killer melodies and innovative production.

11 MP3 Songs
ROCK: Classic Rock, POP: British Pop



Details:
âTrink Jamieâ â The new album from Jamie and the Magic Torch Song

âTrink Jamieâ, the 5th and latest Jamie and The Magic Torch Song album marks an abrupt shift in style and tempo for 31-year-old Brit, Jamie Gray.
To start with, the obvious addition of a 4-piece band to Mr. Grayâs theatrical âChansons and Sea-Shantiesâ repertoire has given The Magic Torch Song a muscular new sound resulting in a dynamic new album for all fans of British-influenced Indie-pop.
Whilst undoubtedly belonging to the currently fashionable spate of retro-styled albums, Jamie and The Magic Torch Song cast their musical net much wider than most of their peers encompassing influences â Bowie, Roxy, The Pretenders, Kate Bush and The Teardrop Explodes, to name a few â without merely aping the attitude of a bygone era.
Amateur Nightâs darkly-crooned vocal is framed by a spooky 50s B-movie organ and spikey surf guitar, whilst Prima Belladonnaâ New Wave synth serves up a lurching pastiche of The Cureâs 1980 classic âA Forestâ for Grayâs dry, vocal styling.
True Love takes the most jaded of love lyrics and serves it up with the most saccharine of vocal melodies. A magical 3-and-a-half minutes of pure pop perfection is delivered against an intertwining backdrop of guitars and endlessly revolving melodic hooks.
Blue Screeningâ lonely heart in the online-chatroom scenario is featured as a crisp 80s up-tempo ballad before pulling all the stops out for a Purple Rain-era Prince guitar wigout.
The Money Shotâs Spanish Cantina swankiness is followed by the supremely catchy Alone in which the hypnotic stalker-guitar of The Policeâs âEvery Breath You Takeâ frames another of Grayâs typically misanthropic lyrics.
All this drama inevitably ends in tears and Peru is the albumâs broken heart of darkness with a hauntingly delivered tale of loss and despair set to a sinister backdrop of feedback and Brechtian overtones.
Love in a Cold Climate provides some relief before standout track Lucky Loser raises spirits further with its Beatles âPenny Laneâ trumpet and soaring bridge melody.
Silent Star is a wryly sung rock number in the tradition of Bowieâs Ziggy and Lou Reedâs Transformer delivered at a pogo-punk speed.
Our grand finale is provided by the wonderfully-realised Valentino where a full-on Phil Spector string arrangement provides the gloss to Grayâs shamelessly romantic, multi-layered vocal.
This album deserves attention and will reward even the most casual listener with its instantly recognisable melodies and innovative arrangements. Trink Jamie may not become the most successful album of 2006-07 but it can certainly claim to be one of the most engaging and interesting. Enjoy!

Lo-fi Highs Ltd. 2006