One Little Indian (label)
20 January 2014 (released)
27 January 2014
When former Teenage Fanclub member Norman Blake moved to Toronto last year, he was re-introduced to local Joe Pernice care of Pernice Brothers' drummer Patrick Berkley. The pair had originally met at a gig at the Astoria in London, when the Pernice Brothers were supporting Blake's band.
They were soon arranging recording dates, with the pair making their live debut in low-key public performances in a Toronto tavern. Now joined by Mike Belisky of The Sadies on drums, the band are releasing this debut set of 10 songs, laced with musical reminders of both Blake and Pernice's bands.
There are gentle harmonies on the summer evening glow of By The Time It Gets Dark, while High On The Skyline's gentle strum soon becomes a typical Byrds-like singalong, although it appears to be one of the songs that Blake and Pernice say they produced about leaping to one's death off a building. Cheery stuff.
For those that miss Fanclub's heady heights of the 1990s, the likes of A Very Sorry Christmas come close to their pomp, with fuzzy guitar right out of the 70s. Cruel Annette and Shouting Match are similar - forming part of a jaunty and refreshing collection. There's nothing innovative here but it's the sound of three guys having a good time.
