Capitol Years - Meet Yr Acres

  by Malcolm Carter

published: 29 / 4 / 2002

---

From Christopher Rainbow to Karl Wallinger to the more contemporary Peter Lacey and Linus Of Hollywood, there has always been an outstanding bunch of one-man bands. One thing they all seem to share, apart from their obvious talent of being able to play almost any instrument they lay their hands on, is a love of the music of the sixties and the Beatles and Beach Boys in particular. Shai Halperin is the latest addition to this long line. Although now expanded into a ‘real group’ by the adding of two more players, it’s Halperin who plays everything on this album. The only outside help comes in the form of former Lilys bassist and current Pernice Brother Thom Monahan as co-producer. So what has Halperin come up with here? We have ten original tracks, which sound like they could have been recorded in the latter half of the sixties, if it wasn’t for the Beck-ish vocals that embellish some of the tracks. We also have one cover, The Velvet Underground’s ‘All Tomorrow’s Parties’, which is the worst track on the album and the only disappointment on an otherwise excellent album of perfect pop music. Maybe we are so over familiar with the original V.U. version to find another reading appealing ,but Halperin’s version sounds dreary and uninspired. Much better are the ten originals. When the vocals are devoid of the Beck inflections they sound uncannily like The Beatles, albeit distorted and multi-tracked, but unusually, and thankfully, it’s George Harrison’s vocals that come to mind rather than those of Lennon or McCartney. This is apparent especially on ‘Here Comes…’. All ten originals are blessed with memorable pop hooks and, although sounding like the record you’d have playing in your head if you’d just stepped off The Beatles Magical Mystery Tour bus, after having The Small Faces first 'Immediate' album as the only music played on the trip, there is enough of Halperin’s own originality in the tracks to make it more than just a nostalgic journey. Apart from the aforementioned ‘Here Comes…’, the other track that shows the Harrison influence is the dreamy, Eastern flavoured ‘Siamese Suns’, which is probably the best track on the album. Lie back in the sun with the headphones on and be transported back to 1967 again. But Halperin is something of a genre hopper. There can be no denying that the track ‘Supper’ owes a debt to The Grateful Dead in it’s blues-rock stylings. From there Halperin jumps ship to the instrumental ‘What’s Yr Problem’, which couples dance beats and scratching with some very catchy guitar playing. From The Beatles and The Grateful Dead to club sounds. now that’s genre hopping! The track called ‘Lord, Lord, I’ve Gone Blind’, in which the only lyrics are the song title repeated over and over again with guitars playing the same riff for 3 minutes and 6 seconds may sound unappealing on paper. But it’s a haunting yet relaxing song that again shows Halperin’s talent for taking the sounds from a more innocent time and adapting them into something that sounds fresh today. Covering all bases from sixties pop to current bands like Sparklehorse, Halperin has produced an album which throws up new surprises with each listen. Apparently, Halperin has finished the next the Capitol Years album. If it is half as good as this debut , it will be worth keeping an eye out for.

Track Listing:-

1 Rollers Row
2 Here Comes …
3 Star Fixer
4 May
5 Faces and Beer
6 Siamese Twins
7 Rolling Hills
8 Lord Lord I've Gone Blind
9 Supper
10 Whats Yr Problem
11 All Tomorrows Parties

Post A Comment

---

Comment

Name

your name

Location

ie London, UK

Submit

Check box to submit

Adam Coxon
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson

Dixie Ernill
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart

Malcolm Carter
Marie Hazelwood
Mark Rowland
Nick Dent-Robinson
Nicky Crewe
Nige Nudds
Philamonjaro
Richard Lewis
Shirley Procter
Spencer Robertshaw
Steev Burgess
Steve Kinrade

Steve Miles
Tommy Gunnarsson
Zena Grieg