Gregory Darling - Shell

It’s almost a year now since Darling’s debut album, ‘Shell’ and his first single ‘That’ll Be The Day’ introduced us to the classic pop that Darling is so adept at producing. Looking back it’s amazing the album didn’t make any ‘best of 2006’ lists. Because I can’t be the only one who keeps returning again and again to the simply beautiful and diverse collection of songs which the album comprised of. Darling’s melodies are instant. You don’t, thankfully, have to work to like his album. It’s one of those rare albums to suit all occasions, be it driving along on a sunny day with the windows wound down, (which the title track and now the latest single is made for) reflective times (‘Lost For Words’ a laid-back jazz-tinged number which is also included on this single) and all those times when we just want to listen to top quality pop music with a lot more substance than usually fills the airwaves these days. The reason the album didn’t get mentioned in those end of year lists probably lies in the fact that the songs are so memorable. Strange as it might seem I, along with others I’d wager money on, felt that the album was not a ‘2006 album’. Those songs are so melodic, so instant, that it felt they had been around for years and, like all classic pop music, not to have aged at all. So, come that twelfth month ‘Shell’ got forgotten just because it seemed it had always been there. The Italians have been some of the first to discover and appreciate the talents of Darling, making ‘That’ll Be The Day’ a great success over there and the singer-songwriter was invited to support Bryan Adams on his Italian tour which couldn’t have harmed his career at all. If the Italians loved ‘That’ll Be The Day’ so much one wonders what they will make of ‘Shell’ now that particular song has been released as a single. It’s a stronger song to pick as a single, and like all Darling’s work it’s hard not to sing along with the song; it’s difficult not to feel good when listening to it. That’s another feature of Darling’s songs, the feel-good factor they create. This is another reason why the album has been one to return to time and again over the last year. The single serves as an ideal taster for the album. I’d rather hear ‘Shell’ on the radio just now, especially as those warm, sunshine filled days are now upon us, than almost any other song just but really the album is full of songs just as strong and in some cases even stronger than the chosen single. It’s simple; if classic, melodic pop songs, beautifully sung, played and produced appeal to you then this single will make your day/week/year. But, really, if the single touches all the right buttons for you then go for the album, another ten songs of the same calibre is not a bad thing. For once this is an album where each and every song could be released as a single; all the songs are that good.