Well, this is certainly — without question — something different. If
Johnny Marr and Tom Jenkinson ever got stuck in an elevator, which they
might after a night of supreme lager slurping, they might — I said might —
have been able to conjure up the starry-eyed (read: gorgeous) melodies that
grace the A-side of this release from Howard Hughes (aka Lee Howard). The
Real, as one might not expect, kicks off with a somewhat Smiths-esque/New
Order-ish guitar licks and 80s synth-pop stylings, and then gives way to
some surpeme fender rhodes work. Which brings me back to Tom J — not
since Squeak (the flip side to his smashing single on Worm Interface) has
there been a drum&bass-styled tune with this much pure…jazz.
Folks loving Carpet Bomb will also appreciate this, I think. The Real’s got a solid bassline, yes — but the rhodesy vibe is gonna keep me coming back for more. The flip, In the Light, also seems to possess some sonic hint from the 80s — perhaps a certain new-wave vibe — but just wait till the bassline comes round! Drops like a bomb. It’s a solid tune, but The Real is just too jazzy for words. For folks into jazz, drum&bass, and modern thinking — this one’s for you. This is one hell of a way to kick off a label, is it not? I might even play this one for my parents.
