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Our Review Of Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds 'Who Built The Moon?'


In the build up to his third solo album, Noel Gallagher has long threatened an ´experimental´ phase, throwing out everything but the kitchen sink of his much impersonated signature sound. Though one third of his brothers have accused him of being ´beige´, glimpses of something different were offered on both his previous records, stand out examples being 'Let The Lord Shine A Light On Me' and 'The Right Stuff', examples of a glimpse into the solo space explored by British songwriters like David Bowie and Paul Weller.

Ahead of Friday´s release, fans have been given a glimpse into this said space, in the form of three tracks, 'Holy Mountain', 'Fort Knox', and last week, 'It´s A Beautiful World'. This week, we´ll get the whole whack.

Here´s what you can expect.




Fort Knox
Not since 'Fucking In The Bushes' has Noel written something so transparently a statement of intent. Tear it down and rebuild it. Featuring quite possibly the biggest drum you´ve ever heard, it´s the first hint of Damon Albarn´s uplifting melodies in Gorillaz, something that crops up a few times on the album. The first thought is how massive it will sound in a live arena, whether or not the High Flying Birds can pull it off live is another question.

Holy Mountain
Not one for the ´Parka Monkeys´ as Noel pointed out. A surprising choice for lead single given the quality of pretty much everything else on the album, but arguably the song most readily picked up by radio playlist and TV ident editors. The song reminds listeners of 'Mucky Fingers' from 'Don´t Believe The Truth', rip-roaring Rock ´n´ Roll that will sound MEGA live.



Keep On Reaching
THIS should have been the first single! Soul and pop in equal measure, the first big tune of this album. Pure pop, pure melody, with the sound of pure adrenaline running through its veins. It suits Noel´s falsetto perfectly and is another livener to pull out the bag live.

It´s A Beautiful World
Arguably the stand out song on the album, probably the one that sounds least like anything on the previous two Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds. The contrast between the dark, cagey verse and the bright spacey chorus is immense. David Holmes´ drum sound and Noel´s guitar fit perfectly, with a cavernous arena and expensive PA it will sound incredible.



She Taught Me How To Fly
The third teaser offered with the album´s announcement, immediately it sounded like a mix of disco and New Order, a marriage of electronica and Rock ´n´ Roll. Far from the strongest song on the album, but it´s uplifting and composition wise references areas Noel´s not travelled to before.


Be Careful What You Wish For
Imagine 'Come Together' by The Beatles and 'The Right Stuff' off 'Chasing Yesterday'. After the previous three lively foot stompers, it´s a welcome chill out session. Gorgeous guitar overlay and percussively different to virtually anything since the Amorphous Androgynous sessions. Despite the album being written in the studio, this one sounds like a recording of a 4am after party jam.

Black & White Sunshine
This is the nearest example to a classic Noel track on the album, and it´s one of the best. It could be the soundtrack to a road trip movie, with a flowing Johnny Marr-esque guitar line (esque…he plays himself later on!). Another transparent nod to one of the many influences on this album comes in the form of the most Rolling Stones-sounding post chorus riff you´ve ever heard.

Interlude
Two parts of one song, ala 'Swamp Song', dark but flowery 60s instrumentals that could have been written by Jacco Gardner. One of the hidden highlights of the album. Picks up where 'The Girl With X-Ray Eyes' left off.

If Love Is The Law
A Christmas love song. Bells and melodies conjuring images of snowy town centers, with Johnny Marr on guitar solo and harmonica duties. This week Noel Gallagher responded to criticism of his songwriting, all he needed to do was put out this song. One of his best tunes in years, works with the gorgeous production, or simply alone on an acoustic guitar. Surely a future single.

The Man Who Build The Moon
A dark and moody finish to the album that sounds like something from Peaky Blinders. The song mentions spiders, death, flies and shadows. Not the uplifting finale you´d expect, but an epic scene. Ties the concept of exploration and flying to a close, summarising it ended in disaster; “…we never should have left town in the first place.”. If this is supposed to be a metaphor for Noel´s own exploration on this album it couldn´t be further from the truth.

Of all his LPs, this one is the most complete, the best ALBUM, even if it lacks the strength of singles from his previous two releases. As much as he goes all out to find a new sound, the qualities of his song writing are still there and he effortlessly covers new ground without sounding like it´s in any way contrived. Those factors together make this a fantastic album, but if you´re looking for the immediacy of 'Chasing Yesterday', or the uplifting melancholia of 'The Death Of You And Me' or 'Broken Arrow', you won´t find it. Sonically, it´s more bold and open minded than anything Noel has recorded before, hopefully his fans are the same.

Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds 'Who Built The Moon?' Is out Friday.

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