I remember seeing Fyfe live a few years back, when the Guillemots were just starting out, before the BBC were all over them. It was in a tiny room in Nottingham, one of those murky, sticky-floored indie venues, full of guys and girls in converse, big beads and fancy hats, and the Guillemots were just a phenomenal bunch of musicians. Fyfe seemed one of the most expressive artists I’d ever seen, a passionate multi-instrumentalist. This video seems pretty mild and mainstream by his former standards, but it could be a good move for his career. Talented chap, anyway.
[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBPt2kfqi90]About Mark Newton
Lovely song, but he looks a little underfed. I feel compelled to make the poor boy a nice lasagne.
Actually, his new album does have its fair share of odd moments. I wouldn’t see this as a change in direction; he’s described the new solo stuff as a bunch of solo songs that he wanted to record quickly and that didn’t seem to fit with Guillemots (though, to these ears, they’re still on the same continuum).
When I first heard it I had no idea it was the bloke from Guillimots, it sounds more like Badly Drawn Boy. I do like the song but the video is a bit off putting in its embrace of the mainstream.
Love the song, and love the rest of the album too. As you say, he’s certainly a talented chap. Quite looking forward to the next one to be honest!