Simpatico / The Pines - Boys With Guitars In Small Town / Static

by Benjamin Howarth

published: 17 / 12 / 2001

Simpatico / The Pines - Boys With Guitars In Small Town / Static

Label: Gifted
Format: 7"

Earlier this year the singer and songwriter from Sweet William, Jason Sweeney, returned with a new project – Simpatico. Its first release was on the popular Matinee label and was a CD single of 4 deli

Review

Earlier this year the singer and songwriter from Sweet William, Jason Sweeney, returned with a new project – Simpatico. Its first release was on the popular Matinee label and was a CD single of 4 delicate indie-pop songs, backed with a simple drum backing. It was, in short, very similar to Sweet William although it sounded a little sparser without bass and a second guitar. Simpatico have now returned with a second release on the Australian Gifted label,which they have shared with London’s The Pines. I’d never heard of the Pines previously but some of you may know that they are a two-piece made up of Pam Berry and Joe Brooker. Pam Berry, like Jason Sweeney, is a former member of another group, in this case Black Tambourine. So, because of this, both bands have decided to offer a new song and then a cover of a song from the other’s old band. So Simpatico cover Black Tambourine on track two, side A whilst The Pines cover Sweet William on track two, side B. A good idea, I guess, because it should ensure that people who’ve bought the record out of loyalty to one band still listen to the other. Simpatico are on side A. The first song “Boys With Guitars in a Small Town” will appeal to a much broader set of fans than his Matinee single, but is still noticeably a Jason Sweeney song. There is less of a natural gel between the vocals and guitars, but this isn’t a bad thing. It makes the track a little edgier. To be honest, it is maybe not as good as the four songs on his debut CD but, for anyone who enjoyed the single, still brilliant. It implies that the forthcoming Simpatico album on Matinee/Gifted will be a diverse and enjoyable collection – not merely an indiepop/C86 record. When not a C86 revivalist Jason plays electro-pop with Other People’s Children, and his Black Tambourine cover draws on these influences. But, although keyboard based, it is bleak and moody sounding. Not immediate at all, it should reward anyone who perseveres with it. Incidently Other People Children (who also feature Louey Hart from Sweet William) have their own debut record out on the Aussie label, Library. Anybody who enjoys Sweeney’s indie material with Sweet William/Simpatico might well be interested in buying this. Maybe I wasn’t expecting much from the Pines. I would have been happy hearing some more great stuff from Simpatico. But the Pines were wonderful. Both the original “Static” and the cover of “Not Actual, Not Lasting” revolve around intricate but melodic acoustic guitars and Pam Berry’s vocals. It sounds like a folk-rock recording from the late sixties, with strong songwriting prominent and intricately played. At the same time it is relatively simple, with only two acoustic guitars providing backing. This split will introduce two wonderful but overlooked artists, and with great packaging it comes highly recommended. Sure to be one of the strongest singles of the year