Emma Pollock - Watch the Fireworks

by Anthony Strutt

published: 10 / 10 / 2007

Label: 4AD
Format: CD

intro

Superb debut solo album from former Delgadoes frontwoman, Emma Pollock

‘Watch the Fireworks’ is the first solo album from the former Delgado, Emma Pollock. Emma has delivered a class album here now she is free of her band of 11 years. ‘Watch the Fireworks’ opens with ‘New Land’, which has an uneven weird flow to it, something like Broadcast at their strangest, but, despite its odd beats, it also rocks gently as well in a classy Pretenders style. ‘Acid Test’ was the second single, which, released before the album, has a Breeders/ Pixies edge to it and very perky bass and guitar. It runs at 100 miles an hour, with Emma’s vocals edging towards those of PJ Harvey or a much softer Courtney Love. ‘Paper and Glue’, which will be the third single, is much slower, with a piano intro and big-sounding guitars. It features a powerful vocal from Emma. This is very strong songwriting indeed. ‘Limbs’ is more in the vein of folk, with Emma's vocal here sounding as delicate as a raindrop. She comes across on it sounding like a female Mark Eitzel. ‘Adrenaline’ was an easy choice as a first single, as it is full of energy and balls. ‘If Silence Means That Much to You’ is another folk number, while the moody ‘Fortune’again sounds like a classy Pretenders. ‘You'll Come Around’ is more mainstream in sound, but again has the mark of mature songwriter. ‘This Rope is Getting Tighter’ is much mellower in tone, and Emma sounds on it like her fellow Scot, Thrum’s Monica Queen, in reflective mode. ‘Here Comes the Heartbreak’ meanwhile is full of lovely poppy charm. ‘The Optimist’ has a slow, folk sound, coming over as very sad with its plucked guitar, and brings this great album by this great Scot to a strong conclusion by becoming more dramatic as it edges towards its climax.

Track Listing:-

1 New Land
2 Acid Test
3 Paper and Glue
4 Limbs
5 Adrenaline
6 If Silence Means That Much to You
7 Fortune
8 You'll Come Around
9 This Rope's Getting Tighter
10 Here Comes the Heartbreak
11 The Optimist

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live reviews

Social, London, 11/9/2008

At the packed, tiny venue of the Social in London, Anthony Strutt former watches Delgados front woman Emma Pollock introduce her new album ,'Watch the Fireworks', to her hardcore fans at its launch gig with impressive flair and style