Shaun de Waal
CD OFTHEWEEK
Irish rockers The Hothouse Flowers have a history stretching back to the late Eighties, so a Best of album (London/Gallo) is not likely to be understocked. And the format works particularly well for them, with one surging, impassioned song following another in a continuous wave of top-notch rockin’ soul.
Their style harks back to the days when rock was young, echoing the Stones at their loosest (except these are palpably nice guys), and with much in Laim O’Maonlai’s vocals to remind one of Van Morrison. He seems almost to babble in his excitement, to fall over his own words, to collapse or soar into nigh-unintelligible ecstasy. But there is little of Morrison’s jazzy indirection: this is rock’n’roll, baby.
There’s Leo Barnes’s squalling sax, the tang of barroom piano, the throaty guitar, the choral effect of backing vocalists racing to keep up with the lead singer. The music bolsters the Flowers’ frequent message of eco-sensitivity and human kindness, whether they’re “giving it all away” or encouraging one to get in touch with oneself “This is it this is your soul,” they urge.
The love songs are great, too. I’m Sorry has to be the most enthusiastic apology a man ever made on record, and they are one of the few bands left who can use the phrase “forever more” without irony and get away with it. Their version of I Can See Clearly Now develops into quite a stormer, a headlong rush of hope. On another song, O’Maonlai sings, “You can love me now.” Okay.