One Trippy Tower
Jim Noir unapologetically submerges a new generation into music that can only be described as psychedelic and groovy. After such high demands for his EP in the UK, Noir releases a full-length album, Tower Of Love, compiling songs from his EPs and new editions.Tower Of Love is like a melting pot of mellow pop bands from the 60s and 70s with quirky electronic piano and horns. He produces a sound comparable to band Badly Drawn Boy, especially in songs like opening “My Patch,” with its jolly foot tapping sound. The song consists of one single line reiterated over and over, “If you ever step up on my patch, I’ll bring you down,” reflecting the simplistic lyrical scheme found in the rest of the album. “Eanie Meany” and “I Me You I’m Your” are a prime examples of Noir’s writing style. Most of his inspiration comes from odd, overheard phrases and daily life. It gives his happy-go-lucky sound a kind of childlike lyricism that makes you think of younger days watching The Electric Company or singing along to Sesame Street puppets proclaiming their love for the letter Q. In Noir’s case it’s the “Key Of C.”
This doesn’t mean Noir’s tracks are adolescent. Title song, “Tower of Love” allows Noir over three minutes of experimentation with various instruments. Along with “Eanie Meany 2”, Noir dabbles with an electronic sound that could come from an Air album. Towards the end of Tower Of Love, Noir strips away from the far out sound. In “Climb A Tree” and “The Only Way” he slows everything down, enabling listeners to hear his Simon and Garfunkel-like vocals, making you forget all the singing and playing is coming from one man. Now that’s groovy.
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