Stylusboy - Hospitality for Hope

by John Clarkson

published: 3 / 12 / 2013

Label: Wild Sound Recordings
Format: CD

Over self-consciously lo-fi yet promising folk pop from Coventry-based duo, Stylusboy

Review

Stylusboy are a "lo-fi" Coventry-based folk pop duo centered around locally-based singer-songwriter Steve Jones and the Northern-born Rachel Grisedale. And that is initially the problem with their debut album 'Hope for Hospitality', which is the latest release on folk musician Polly Paulusma's label Wild Sound Recordings. It all comes across initially as a little too self-consciously understated - from its home-drawn sleeve to its music which is largely based around Jones's fluttering guitar lines with occasional interjections on double bass from guest musician John Parkes. There proves, however, to be a lot to recommend and enjoy on 'Hope for Hospitality'. It takes a few plays, but Jones's melodies have a catchiness which eventually win out. There is also a real sense of chemistry between Jones and Grisedale. They recall Deacon Blue, Jones’s solid vocals like those of Ricky Ross providing strong groundwork to the tunes to which Grisedale then like Lorraine McIntosh with her soaring harmonies brings texture and colour. For all, that, however, there are several flaws. It is all very twee, every song providing a somewhat saccharine account of love and its blooming. “This is the start of something beautiful,” the pair purr on ‘Love’s Tale’, and “She is chasing the night into the light,” they swoon on ‘Chasing the Night’, before breathlessly adding a few moments later, “This time it will be different.” Jones and Grisedale also play their best card first with the magnificent opening track, the chiming, swooping pop of ‘Lantern’, which none of the other tracks, while often very solid, quite match. Although the whole album is barely half an hour long, one is left feeling by its end that they have stretched its palette both musically and lyrically as far as they can. Stylusboy nevertheless remain a band of some promise. If they can extend their blueprint for the next album, they have everything to play for.

Track Listing:-

1 Lantern
2 Goodbye Day
3 Love's Tale
4 Staring at the Sky
5 Eyes Form Tears
6 Chasing the Light
7 Closer
8 Be the First
9 Hospitality for Hope
10 Hold My Hand

Band Links:-

https://twitter.com/stylusboy
https://www.facebook.com/stylusboy
http://www.stylusboy.co.uk/welcome
https://www.youtube.com/user/stylusboy
https://instagram.com/stylusboy/