Pop Levi - Never Never Love (Counter)
3/5
By: Charlie Bradford
If you read the small amount of blurb on the back of my promo CD, Pop Levi is made to sound like some kind of Jesus figure. He's been out in the wilderness wandering, lost and confused. And now the boy has returned we should bow down and give thanks. Supposedly. Well, I'm not sure if this album is enough to make me get down on my knees and declare my devotion by lowering my head to the floor and giving praise, but I am happy to stand and say this 13 track, bafflingly eclectic offering from Mr Levi is certainly enticing.
The front cover shows Pop awkwardly posing with his hands behind his head, dressed in a red silk kimono. His beard and mid length hair do marginally resemble a Jesus meets Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat character. Much like his look, this ex Ladytron bassist's sound is a mixed bag. Each song provides the listeners with a flamboyant and unique insight into the weird world of Pop Levi. Tracks swing from genre to genre with effortless ingenuity.
Opener 'Wannamama' is a ballsy rock 'n' roll head spinner, like Wolfmother if they were to let the lead singers mass of hair down. Sharp title track 'Never Never Love' takes the listener somewhere different - the jittery highly produced beats are expertly juxtaposed with the quite sad idea of never being in love.
When I said Levi was able to hop between genres, I was being serious (not that you had much reason to doubt me). 'Semi Babe' is a sweet ballad-esque tune exhibiting signs of grandeur, whilst 'Fire on Your Feet' takes it back to a rockier edge, but is a very repetitive song. Tracks like 'You Don't Gotta Run' and 'Love You Straight' are quite sugar coated, unadventurous pop. 'Everything & Finally' reminds me of Prince and 'Calling Me Down' is a rather touching ballad. All over the sodding place, this one.
Pop Levi is a thoroughly colourful artist. His songs sweep through genres faster than Japanese bullet trains whilst synths and strange phone sounds add futuristic touches. But my biggest bone to pick comes with the repetitiveness that runs through many of the songs. While instrumentally Levi may demonstrate an adeptness for differing the sounds of his songs, lyrically he definitely drifts towards a few favourite themes far too often. Despite that criticism however this remains a mystical album, not holy, but wholly but intriguing.
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