Label: unsigned

Producer: Steve and Amanda

Release Date: 2005

here is alternative pop in the world that raises eyebrows and there is the kind of alternative pop that's a little less common and that raises your praise and appreciation a few degrees past the last grade on the scale. Needledrop's self titled six track offering does that to whatever range you had in mind and they seem to do it effortlessly. Based in New York City, US born Steve and Ireland born Amanda have managed to produce a superb collection of tracks destined for the kind of spotlight you'd see spread over equally superb bands like Garbage, Mimi Ferocious, Ana Lovelis, The Clouds, Coldplay, and Texas.

All night long opens the album up with nice pads and guitar sprinklings before Amanda's often ethereal and ambient vocal demands your utmost attention. She's an amazing singer equipped with all of those things that the likes of Sade and Nina Simone happened to be born with. All night long is a mellow track with it's smooth sax inserts and superb bass treatments adding to an arrangement that is quite simply first class!

Murder arrives with a catalystic spread of guitar over an introspective yet casually brilliant vocal. Here we have some reflections of what the production team around Shirley Manson achieved to wide critical acclaim for both Garbage and Garbage 2.0. Steve's arrangement is outstanding and the production shares the same kind of accolade. Murder is one of those tracks you get to review and have a very hard time moving on from.. it's sticks with you until a few plays become so ingrained that you feel a kind of empathy with the concept that the song sprang from.

Strange is one of the finest tracks on this album with some truly brilliant vocals that would make a live performance absolutely spell binding. Again, the arrangement is quite synchronous with the vocal style and the lyrics are quite exceptional. A sensibly adjusted audience, some fine sound equipment and a couple of blue lights here and there for this one would make the song as visually stunning as it is in terms of it's production!

Up in smoke features the production style that made Garbage soar but with Needledrop's touches of uniqueness especially in the lyrics and vocals. As I implied earlier, these two guys know a thing or two about what makes alternative pop vibrant and colourful. I've been told that Steve and Amanda met in Ireland while Steve was on tour.. What a remarkable chance meeting and what a remarkable track to highlight the gratitude your ears feel as a result! Feels like meanwhile, takes the listener to the upper floors of where Sade once roamed with her very smooth and sultry vocal escapades. Amanda picks up where Sade left off and expands those horizons even further. With such a beautifully accomplished voice, with such perceptive lyrics, and with an arrangement that is dutifully bound to make sure everything is as it should be, this song exudes brilliance and I can't wait for their next album!

The final track on this fine album is aptly titled Just.. at over four minutes in length, and throughout it's entirety, you are in for one very special encounter with just about every ounce of sensual delight you were ever acquainted with. I have to say that, with only six tracks to be introduced to Needledrop with, Amanda is now one of my favourite singers in the world, Steve is one of my favourite composers, and this CD is one of the most sensible purchases you'll make this year! The thing is... and I say this without hesitation, the longer you wait... the more you need to be ashamed of your lack of true common sense!

 

CD Reviews

IOM Magazine

Related