Proper Ornaments - Wooden Head

by Anthony Strutt

published: 1 / 7 / 2014

Label: Fortuna POP!
Format: CD

Predictable 1990's-influenced Britpop and Americana on debut album from Argentinian-British duo, the Proper Ornaments

Review

The Proper Ornaments are Max Claps, an Argentinian, and James Hoare, who is also in Veronica Falls. Max arrived in London in 2008 with the help of former Stones manager Andrew Loog Oldham. A few weeks later he was in a shop when his girlfriend tried to steal something, while the shop assistant who was James was reading a book on the Velvet Underground, The two guys bonded over a shared love of that band and West Coast pop. Their new album was recorded on a broken eight-track bought off someone dodgy from eBay, producing an album that is like listening to your favourite 1990's Britpop and Americana bands. 'Gone' plods along very slowly like a William Reid-sung Jesus and Mary Chain number. 'Sun' recalls the Pixies on a downer and is far too laid-back in the mix. 'Ruby' recollects acoustic RIDE after they had shaken off their Shoegaze influences. 'Now I Understand' has the groove of a commercial 60's-influenced the House Of Love. 'Don't You Want to Know (What You're Going to Be?' again recollects RIDE and flows along gently. 'Magazine' jangles in C86 fashion, and is perfect for twee boys and girls to hold hands to while gazing and dreaming. 'Stereolab' recalls Echo & The Bunnymen, and 'Step into the Cold' the Velvet Underground. 'Tire Me Out' is drum machine-paced and like the Jesus and Mary Chain at the time of 'Darklands'. 'Always There' is misty-eyed and country-inspired recollecting the Raveonettes. 'Summer's Gone' has a 'Sunday Morning' vibe and is like Lou Reed in his softer moments. 'What Am I to Do?' is musically like the Banshees version of 'Dear Prudence but vocally it is very twee. 'You Shouldn't Have Gone' recollects '9 Million Rainy Days' by the Jesus and Mary Chain, but has a slower softer vocal that captures Chapterhouse's gazed-out trips. It ends with 'You'll See', which is like Jim Reid fronting the Velvet Underground. It is all very pleasant but sadly nothing we haven't heard many times before.

Track Listing:-

1 Gone
2 Sun
3 Ruby
4 Now I Understand
5 Don't You Want to Know (What
6 Magazine
7 Stereolab
8 Step into the Cold
9 Tire Me Out
10 Always There
11 Summer's Gone
12 What Am I to Do
13 You Shouldn't Have Gone
14 You'll See