Suzi Chunk - Got Up and Gone/Find the Morning

  by Malcolm Carter

published: 30 / 9 / 2016

Label: Trouserphonic
Format: 7"

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Two new 60's-influenced songs songs on limited edition vinyl displaying different sides of Groovy Uncle singer Suzi Chunk’s soulful vocals

Is there any other artist that captures not only the sound of the 1960's beat girls but the spirit too as well as Suzi Chunk? For Suzi’s latest single she’s chosen two new Glenn Prangnell songs, the pairing of Suzi’s powerful, emotive vocals with Glenn’s 60's inspired songs has proven to be a winner in the past, both on Suzi’s solo work and with her work as vocalist in Glenn’s band Groovy Uncle. This latest release, on the Trouserphonic imprint, continues in the vein of the duo’s previous work but still sounds fresh, even though there’s the feeling that you know the song already. As soon as it starts playing, Suzi and Glenn always inject their work with enough detail and small nuances to ensure that, although it might sound familiar, you also know you’re discovering yet another Prangnell/Chunk classic for the first time. There’s talk of a new Groovy Uncle album featuring Suzi in her usual role as lead singer appearing early in 2017 but for now this double helping of Suzi’s vocals belting out two addictive 1960's-influenced tunes from Prangnell will do very nicely. For a single it works brilliantly in showing off Suzi’s talent for handling different types of song. What appears to be the ‘A’ side is a brassy, stomper of a song with a rich melody and the band never letting up for a moment, but still Suzi’s vocals steal the show. Fusing beat and soul, be it of the Northern variety or a funky take on 1960's r’n’b, has always been a trademark of what happens when this singer tackles Prangnell’s songs and ‘Got Up and Gone’ is no exception, leaving the listener almost breathless by the end of the song. Prangnell is a master at filling his songs chock full of hooks and Suzi is the perfect singer to bring his songs to life. There’s little doubt that Suzi is a match for any of the 1960's beat belters; the Ace label has recently issued two compilations featuring some of the best of the beat girls output from the 1960s issued on the Decca and Pye labels (and there’s one on the way from the same label featuring Sweden’s contribution to the genre) and Suzi easily outshines most of the singers on those collections, incredible as they are. As mentioned before it’s not just that voice or Prangnell’s exceptional songwriting skills, it’s the way everyone involved in Suzi’s work captures the spirit of those times on their records. While ‘Got Up and Gone’ displays Suzi’s raunchy side, ‘Find the Morning’ shows Suzi in introspective mood. With those almost spaghetti western guitar runs that Glenn has used to brilliant effect before making a welcome return and the addition of flutes this song, taken at a much slower tempo than ‘Got Up And Gone’, is a real spine-chiller. Although Suzi has shown before that she can handle any type of song, it’s on these slower-paced tracks that her voice shines even brighter. The power in her voice is still there but it is more emotive; Suzi is one of those rare singers that can have you dancing along to one song then crying into your beer on the next. Displaying the two different but equally appealing sides to Suzi’s vocals on one single is a smart move and one that ensures that even with just two songs on offer there’s something for everyone here. Currently available on limited edition 7” translucent orange vinyl from The Groovy Uncle website, the single further confirms just what an exceptional singer Suzi Chunk is.

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