Ant - A Long Way To Blow A Kiss

  by Anthony Strutt

published: 29 / 3 / 2002

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Review

'A Long Way to Blow a Kiss' is 11 tracks, 38 minutes and 15 seconds of pure bedsit love and longing from Hefner's drummer, Antony Harding. It follows on from last year's mini album 'Cures for Broken Hearts', which was also released on the Birmingham based label Fortune and Glory. Ant writes very twee tales of innocent love, all of which are perfomed on this on instruments which I have never heard of. For live appearances though, Ant relies on just a drum machine, and also-God forbid-an amplified classical guitar, which he uses because the strings are stronger and have more of a natural feeling. This all comes across like a twee Leonard Cohen. All these songs are written for Ant's very young and very beautiful girlfriend. To be honest, if I were her, I would feel very flattered. I possibly think the greatest love song ever written is the Bangles 'Eternal Flame'. but these songs are so easily delivered and with such pure innocence, that they are definitely on the same level. It is strange to think that in Ant's day job as drummer he provides backing to Darren Hayman's tales of one night stands, drinking and smoking. All these songs tell, without repeating themselves, stories of absolute passion, and of missing one's true love because one is away on tour. All are played with just enough pleasant soft guitar backing to please Brit poppers everywhere. A true talent ! if you fall asleep listening to this then all your demons should disappear and love can be yours forever (So, we all have dreams okay ....)

Track Listing:-

1 The Trick
2 Maybe Love Will Return
3 Any Girl Can Make Me Smile
4 History
5 When I Need You To
6 Waste The Days Away
7 A Long Way To Blow A Kiss
8 I Always Hurt The One That I Love
9 Every Drop of Rain
10 Today As Yesterday
11 April Rain