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FLOATING IN THE AFTERWORLD
I had an inkling of what Afterworld would sound like, having already got the numerous ‘singles’ imprinted on my mind. No surprise, as more often than not, they were accompanied by atmospheric black and white films; to call them videos is to undersell them.
I now hear Afterworld in a filmic way. But its influences go way beyond that. I know John O’Brien’s musical pedigree very well – his influences cross-pollinate with many of my own, so naturally my ears pick up the Ferry phrasings that have morphed gradually into something more original, something more MJM.
But on a full listen of the new album, I’m hearing more Simple Minds noodlings, more Mick Khan fretless runs and more Scott Walker baritone, than I am Ferry echoes.
The catchy opener ‘Big Sky’ sums this up perfectly, maybe with the spirit of Black in there too. ‘Crazy Love’ not only mirrors a Ferry cover title, but this is where the Boys and Girls petticoats are still on show. The use of foreign babbling under the track doesn’t escape me and I expect this to disappear on the next album now they’ve got it out of their system.
‘Lost to the World’ is an old familiar track – eminently radio friendly, yet wistful and melancholic. It is still the standout track for me. Beautiful keyboard patterns and suits Matt’s voice perfectly.
‘Blown Away’ has Matt slipping on his David Sylvian kimono and borrowing Ferry’s nothing lasts forever mantra. Beautiful guitar, gorgeous fiddle and backing vocals.
I have a theory that even though Ferry is known as ‘The King of Melody,’ no one can write a simpler tune than Brian Eno. I can almost imagine him coming up with ‘Children of the Rain’ and there’s no higher praise than that. This is the most moving track on the album and presently my favourite. A beautiful eulogy to the people of Ukraine.
Here comes ‘The Miracle Man,’ pure Simple Minds. This and ‘Who Do You Want to Be’ are irritatingly catchy. I’d like to hear Matt really let rip. He sounds like he’s got a V8 under the bonnet but is too tentative to get out of 5th. Who do you wanna be? Bowie/Lennon/Bolan? Give us a scream!
‘Empire Station’s fiddle and backing vocals give it a nice folksy edge and the Ferry treatments are out in full force again.
‘The Dream Before You Came’ is another one I’ve lived with for a while and feels very familiar. Lovely duet and chorus.
‘Afterworld’ is the latest track to be released on social media and comes with a fantastic AI film telling tales of 4 -fingered seafarers and 5-legged turtles – a dystopian drowning fantasy. And with that, it’s a sophisticated, polished wrap.
It’s very easy to draw parallels between MJM and their major influences - Ferry, Japan, Simple Minds et al, but it’s a very different story when trying to make something original out of such an eclectic mix.
I think MJM are well on their way to finding that identity. I have to remind myself that, despite both John and Matt displaying such musical dexterity, they don’t actually do this for a living. Astounding really.
I’ve joked with John O’B about them being the Scottish Pet Shop Boys. He as Chris Lowe, happiest in the shadows pulling the soundscapes and arrangement strings, Matt as Neil Tennant, revelling in the spotlight as front man.
Look at the two of them wearing studded jackets in the video for Miracle Man and tell me otherwise!
This is a great debut and if you haven’t already bought a copy you should snap one up immediately. Meanwhile, I’m looking forward to the promise of where the next one goes.
What comes after Afterworld?
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