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Reviews

Stay — Always Here
(Fruits de Mer Winkle 29, 2017, 7" + DVD)

by Henry Schneider, Published 2017-10-01

Always Here Cover art

These Barcelona psychedelic rockers return to Fruits de Mer with a new EP out on September 25, 2017. Their last release was Mersey Dream in 2013. The new five-track EP features “Always Here” from their new album The Mean Solar Times, a song produced by Brit Pop guru Owen Morris (Oasis and The Verve), plus a remix of their “You Know It’s Right” and covers of the Bee Gees’ “Every Christian Lion Hearted Man Will Show You,” the Kinks’ “Where Have All the Good Times Gone?,” and Buffalo Springfield's “Rock and Roll Woman.” In addition to the EP there is a bonus DVD about the making of The Mean Solar Times. “Always Here” is a catchy pop-psych song with slightly accented vocal harmonies sounding somewhat like The Rembrandts' theme song for Friends. “Every Christian Lion Hearted Man Will Show You” is probably my favorite Bee Gees song, so I was anxiously waiting to hear Stay’s cover. They do not disappoint. Their vocal harmonies mimic the Bee Gees, plus the excellent organ and wah wah guitar are wonderful touches. This cover is definitely not as gothically sinister as the original, but that is not an issue. Stay's cover of The Kinks puts a neo-psych spin on the song with a rocking organ and vocal harmonies to produce a good-time party song. Their remix of the “You Know It’s right” is a pleasant catchy song with reverbed guitar. And their cover of the Buffalo Springfield took me completely by surprise. This happened to be the first song I listened to on the EP and I was preoccupied. When the song began, I did a double take thinking this was an alternative Buffalo Springfield version that had somehow snuck into my library. Always Here is one impeccable release that should not be missed.

Filed under: New releases, 2017 releases

Related artist(s): Stay

 

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