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Back to: Archive · 2006 The fast seduction From Uncut, cover date: April 2006. 'Love Travels At Illegal Speeds' reviewed by Paul Moody.  With Damon Albarn busy annexing South East Asia thanks to the global gestalt of Gorillaz, Alex James collaborating with Betty Boo, and Dave Rowntree probably still mourning the disappearance of Beagle 2, it's been left to Graham Coxon to cash in on the current nostalgia for all things Parklife. Few would begrudge the ex-Blur guitarist his success. It was Coxon, after all, who fired the first salvo at the Strokes-led US invasion force with firecracker single 'Freakin' Out' in January 2004. The support he's received since - notably from touring partners Kaiser Chiefs - has confirmed his status as both the Syd Barrett of Britpop and stalwart defender of the faith (Pike, if you like, to Billy Childish's Captain Mainwaring). The good news, too, is that the miserable years are finally behind him. If his music no longer reflects influences ranging from Slint to the Incredible String Band to Talulah Gosh, it is also blessedly free from the crippling introspection of his early solo albums. Instead, we get the buzzsaw new wave of 2004's Happiness In Magazines, souped up to new levels of pogo-a-bility by producer Stephen Street. For those of a certain age, the temptation to play spot the reference is irresistible. "I Can't Look At Your Skin" shares the same gonzo riff as The Monks' "Nice Legs Shame About The Face"; "Gimme Some Love" rips the bridge from the Rezillos' "Top Of The Pops"; and when he yelps, "Guess he's just better looking than me!" in the adenoidal overdrive of "What's He Got?", there's an unmistakable whiff of Jilted John. It's thrilling blood pumping stuff, like discovering a whole vault of neurotic classics mined from the same seam as The Ruts and The Skids. Throughout, Coxon's masterly musicianship (he plays everything) and shameless enthusiasm for such modish fare pulses like an electric current. "My body and my soul have been revived", he croons when the tempo finally flags on the exquisite pastoral psych of "Flights To The Sea (Lovely Rain)". While amusing himself, it seems, Coxon has finally found his niche. Rating: 4 out of 5. Uncut: So what's the significance of the title? Coxon: The album is about love in all its forms. Most of my records are, but this is me looking at it from a few different angles. I'm updating George Formby! There's a very strong punk influence, isn't there. It was when I first started listening to pop music. In those days punk rock was pop music. You'd turn on the radio and hear The Jam or Sham 69, or things like David Bowie's "Ashes To Ashes". What's "I Can't Look At Your Skin" about? I had a crush on a girl at school when I was 14. She was very well developed for her age, and I was intrigued by her because she was getting down to the nitty gritty with some of the boys at school. I was obsessed and repulsed by her at the same time. No, not the nitty gritty with me, unfortunately... |