The Gold Needles, Hull’s purveyors of fine 1960s influenced psych power-pop prove their worth once again with a delightful selection of sunshine-tinged pop tunes, this time released on legendary US-based label Jem Records. The band appear to have taken the time between their debut Pearls and this new album Through a Window, honing and perfecting their blissed-out sounds.
This album is a cohesive solid set of ten beat pop influenced tunes dropping just in time for summer. Through a window will be a great soundtrack to long hot hazy summer days, if we get any. Even on days when the rain traps you indoors, pop this CD on and the sun will shine in your living room.
I Bid You Welcome…
“Do You Want What I Need” kicks things off with intent, its urgent insistent chorus, laying down the groundwork for the sublime “Sunset Girl” demonstrating the upbeat-uplifting Byrdsian jangle-pop that is the signature sound on several of the tracks here. Soar-away chiming jangly guitars are order of the day alongside charming vocal harmonies, Here She Goes Again and This Autumn Road demonstrating these and ensuring they are among the album’s highlights, while the latter also hints at early REM.
Two covers appear amongst the ten tracks here, The Monkees “I’m Gonna Try” is dealt with sympathetically allowing it to sit nicely amongst the other eight originals. The other cover, of The Lemon Pipers The Shoemaker of Leatherwear Square, while there is nothing wrong with their rendering of the track in itself, it is my least favourite of the tracks on offer and after an initial couple of listens I ended up skipping on to their splendid original and album closer, Goodnight Mr Tom. On reflection it seems slightly out of place for me, preferring their own summery jangle-pop tunes.
Alongside the jingle jangle and beat pop, punk and new wave influences come to the fore along the way, specifically on The Boys/XTC tinged Winning a Losing Game. Elsewhere other elements add extra interest to several tracks, plucked strings on the moving Upon our Skin and brass on the jaunty Girl You Will Be Mine.
“We’re heading out to the beach in summer…” We just need the sun to shine now.
The Gold Needles – bandcamp