2008-04-25

NORMAN RECORDS 

Single Of The Week

Alexander Tucker- Custom Made dbl pack 7" (ATP Recordings)

Alexander Tucker has done it again with an astonishingly good 4 track EP called Custom Made . This is part of ATP's custom made series of expensive double pack 7"'s. Expensive but nice.... Like the extra special range in your supermarket, this is as extra special, if not more so. His last album was good but after the genius of 'Old Fog' the young man Tucker had a lot to prove. This is a proper return to form though with 4 absolutely stunning tracks. The 1st time I heard this I was absolutely blown away as the songs are amazing. The 1st track (Phantom Rings) is usual Tucker territory with his medieval thing pervading through the music but the vocals have a very slight Beta Band ish thing going on. But 2nd track 'Vein's To The Sky' steals the show.... the high pitched vocals.... the layers of wonky sounded guitars, and that melody does it for me every time I hear it. Seriously this is the best thing I've heard by the guy... there's 2 more tracks on here that are great but I have to press repeat one more time to hear that tune... Damned it's good. If you like your folk all medieval and wonky this is for you!! 'Rodeo In The Sky' sounds almost like a slowed down 'Love Will tear Us Apart'. And there's still one more track I'm not gonna mention so you've got a bit of a surprise like. Check it out folks.... I'm a sucker for tucker.... I think I ruined the review with that line.... - Phil x