Ireland has produced great bands, have I ever mentioned That Petrol Emotion?(never going to stop praising them, sorry). The Fat Lady Sings hailed from Dublin but moved to London to launch their career and released two albums over an eight-year career before main songwriter Nick Kelly realised that he had enough and quit.
Twist was their debut album which made the UK top fifty and this is probably a band who are remembered more fondly than their record sales would suggest, I certainly remember them, have listened to them but never put my hand in my pocket, reading up on them I am glad they had success in their native Ireland.
Over the eleven tracks the four-piece band show a flair for medley, angst, and passion. Go to Contact, recorded live, to hear that passion.
Broken Into breaks us in gently with acoustic guitar and Kelly’s voice establishing itself before the band gradually appear towards the end, Arclight has a melody and a chorus that many lesser bands would take to number one if covered, why was this song not a hit?
The title track is a wonderful song but on reading the lyrics there is a depth to Kelly’s writing “So what do I do when the love of you makes me hate myself and makes me hurt everybody else?” This is well thought out music.
Single Deborah opens with one of the best harmonica solos I have heard in many a year and a passionate vocal from Kelly pleading almost with a guitar solo to die for.
Man Scared storms along before stopping for a change in pace and then taking off again and Be Still is acoustic led, almost gentle whispered vocals and let’s have the odd heavy drum and a thrash of guitar.
Closer Dronning Maud Land is almost child like with simple piano and then decides to sweep us along.
Kelly moved into films and still occasionally makes music, and so he bloody should.
7/10
GIVE IT A STREAM: Arclight
If you are interested in the band there is an excellent podcast where Nick Kelly discusses the band with Paul McDermott. Go to Paul’s website and give it a listen Episode 31 - Twist by The Fat Lady Sings — Paul McDermott
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