Supahip - Seize The World

  by Malcolm Carter

published: 20 / 8 / 2005

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Strange that this debut from Supahip should arrive around the same time as the Sponge Tones new album. Michael Carpenter, who along with Hitchcock’s Regret Mark Moldre, makes up Supahip always strikes me as the Australian equivalent of the Sponge Tones' Jamie Hoover. Both are accomplished producers and songwriters, both release solo as well as band albums and both are highly regarded as leaders in the power pop genre. To receive their latest projects around the same time would be, for any true power pop fan, like a quick tour around heaven. Longing for the old days of instant creation when music wasn’t overproduced, the duo had the idea of arriving at the studio in the morning with just loose snippets of songs and leaving with a completed song. So with just 13 days work over 14 months the duo finally unleash the fruits of their labour to those of us who eagerly await anything connected with Michael Carpenter. Firstly, it should be mentioned that the 12 songs are first presented in stereo then 10 of the songs are then presented in a mono mix. (There wasn’t room on the CD for all 12 mono mixes to be included). This might not matter to a lot of listeners, but to anyone who grew up listening to music produced in the 60's it’s going to be a big deal. Anyone who realises that there were, at times, major differences between mono and stereo mixes way back then will be interested to know that the mono mixes here differ quite a lot at times from the stereo mixes. They are much more punchy, just as a mono mix should be. But do the songs stand up to be presented twice on the same disc? A resounding yes is the answer. But then with Carpenter and Moldre (about time we heard something new from Hitchcock’s Regret isn’t it?) involved that should go without saying. Of the twelve songs eleven are Carpenter/Moldre originals and the one cover is Nik Kershaw’s ‘Wouldn’t It Be Good’ which is surprisingly good. Although like the Sponge Tones, Supahip are influenced by the 60's, they are not as Beatles-fixated as that band. The 60's are a major influence for sure, particularly the latter part of the decade, but then that could be said about any band turning out a collection of well crafted, melodic pop songs; especially those with Carpenter’s trademark heavenly harmonies. Kicking off with the faraway sounds of ‘Like Love’ the song immediately brings a smile to the face. Typical of Carpenter, you know it’s a new song but can’t help but try to place exactly why it seems to sound so familiar. Transporting you off to another place, all lovely harmonies and a melody once heard never forgotten, you get the feeling that if the album carries on like this all is going to be fine in your world for the duration of the album. Which it is for the most part. There are songs which are not so immediate, but even then no more than three plays are needed for the song to be permanently lodged in your brain. Among those that register from the first play as classic pop songs are, ‘Everything’s Alright’ which is like Elvis Costello fronting Squeeze ; the ballad ‘No Tomorrow’ which follows much the same path as the opening song but reveals itself as a psychedelic ballad showcasing those heavenly harmonies once more : the country flavoured ‘Falling Backwards’ complete with treated vocals and the simply gorgeous ‘Hanging By A Thread’. Or for the best music of the 60's and early 70's all neatly wrapped up in 5 minutes 40 seconds try the last song, ‘Let Go/Around The Sun’. For daring to do something different and adding the mono mixes Supahip have added another dimension to an album which would have been exceptional with just the twelve ‘original’ mixes. That they have taken the trouble and time to add the extra mixes just adds to their reputation. This is an outstanding album and one to return to again and again.

Track Listing:-

1 Like Love
2 Tulsa
3 Everything's Alright
4 Something's Gotta Give
5 No Tomorrow
6 Wouldn't It Be Good
7 Satellite
8 Falling Backwards
9 The Radio
10 Hanging By A Thread
11 Ultra Black Light
12 Let Go/Around The Sun
13 Like Love (mono)
14 Tulsa (mono)
15 Something's Gotta Give (mono)
16 No Tomorrow (mono)
17 Satellite (mono)
18 Falling Backwards (mono)
19 The Radio (mono)
20 Hanging By A Thread (mono)
21 Ultra Black Light (mono)
22 Let Go/Around The Sun (mono)

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