Black Neon - Arts And Crafts
by Adam Wood
published: 20 / 8 / 2006

Label:
Select Label
Format: CD
intro
Delightful slab of electro-pop rock recorded in Berlin by Black Neon, the moniker for one-man band Steve Webster
One-man band Steve Webster knew only 17 words of German before he decided to take his Black Neon project all the way to Berlin to record 'Arts and Crafts', a delightful slab of electro-pop rock. ‘Ode to Immer Wieder’ opens the album, a rolling instrumental that pays homage to earlier Brian Eno and the almost choral stylings of 'Trans Europe Express'-era Kraftwerk. But all that ’70s Berliner nonsense stops there, as 'Arts and Crafts' unravels its über pop sensibilities. The stand out track, ‘Ralph and Barbara,’ is a quirky story of one man’s dream to escape Germany and go with his wife to Mexico, played out above the delicate auspices of a backing that owes more to Love and the Beatles than to Bowie or Numan. Webster’s vocals carry off a warm charm not unlike Ben Gibbard on Postal Service duty, only without a crippling inability to communicate to the opposite sex. Despite this, Webster can also exact a Germanic cool on proceedings. ‘The Ghosts’ is a Tiga inspired slice of kitsch upon which Black Neon’s subliminal 80's inspired electronics show their full force. ‘The Truth’ is a threatening, feedback drenched violation of Death in Vegas’ ‘Aisha,’ and in ‘TX81Z’ the bass line thunders agreement with a relentless fuzz box shudder. Black Neon’s record lurches between the demonic and the kooky without seemingly breaking sweat. Despite having been around for over five years and claiming that Black Neon will never play live again, Webster has only just begun to hit all the right notes. 'Arts and Crafts' is very nearly a masterpiece.
Track Listing:-
1 Ode To Immer Weider2 Ralph & Barbara
3 Cast That Light
4 The Truth
5 Infinity Pool
6 TX81Z
7 Hollywood 1,2 & 3
8 Shoot Me Into Space
9 The Ghosts
10 The Exit
most viewed articles
current edition
Peter Doherty - Blackheath Halls, Blackheath and Palace Halls, Watford, 18/3/2025 and 21/3/2025Armory Show - Interview with Richard Jobson
Liz Mitchell - Interview
Lauren Mayberry - Photoscapes
Deb Googe and Cara Tivey - Interview
Max Bianco and the BlueHearts - Troubadour, London, 29/3/2025
Sukie Smith - Interview
Maarten Schiethart - Vinyl Stories
Clive Langer - Interview
Kim Wilde - Photoscapes
most viewed reviews
current edition
Davey Woodward - Mumbo in the JumboNigel Stonier - Wolf Notes
Wings - Venus and Mars
Only Child - Holy Ghosts
Kate Daisy Grant and Nick Pynn - Songs For The Trees
Neil Campbell - The Turnaround
Philip Jeays - Victoria
Darkness - Dreams On Toast
Suzanne Vega - Flying With Angels
Charles Ellsworth - Cosmic Cannon Fodder
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart