Marine Research

Sounds from the Gulf Stream
(K)

As I kept reading positive reviews of Sounds from the Gulf Stream, I thought this record would grow on me more. Marine Research is the new incarnation of Heavenly following the suicide of drummer Matthew Fletcher. The rest of the band returned with Fletcher's sister Amelia still the recognizable focal point with her sweet-as-honey vocals.

Songs like "You and a Girl," "Hopefulness to Hopelessness" and "End of the Affair" let you know this is going to be another suite of boy-girl social commentary. This time out, the guitar pop sound is augmented by more of a Europop feel with tinkling keyboards and nonsense lyric bridges. This leaves a bit of a disjointed texture to the album as consecutive songs veer stylistically from the new direction of "Glamour Gap" to "At the Lost and Found," a rocking number that would have fit in fine on Heavenly's The Decline and Fall of Heavenly from 1994. When the new sounds takes hold, it's pure pop, uh, heaven, especially in "End of the Affair" a tune that could give Saint Etienne a run for their money. At the moment, still a work in progress.

Rating: 5

Tim Frommer


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