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Badly Drawn Boy | About A Boy

A relief! It's not a complete sellout.
CD, Twisted Nerve/V2

Tekst: Alex Tobin

Publicatiedatum: 06 april 2002

First of all, lose the cover. While the promo CD sports an original Badly Drawn Boy/Andy Votel piece as its artwork, it's a disheartening sign to discover that this sympathetic picture has been replaced on the proper release with a rather large shot of Hugh Grant's mug, with child. Yes, it's an "original soundtrack from the motion picture composed and performed by", this one is. Oh Damon, have you sold your soul to corporate money once again? (Adidas was one thing, but this..?) Well, luckily, it all makes sense really, and fans of 'The Hour Of Bewilderbeast' can rest easily.

Sixteen tracks seem like a lot of value for money, so do beware that this album clocks in just shy of 45 minutes, and, with four short fragments and three instrumentals, it might not be all BDB fans are expecting. Those, however, who do bite the bullet and purchase the 'About A Boy' soundtrack will be able to hear what our Damon's been up to with top LA producer Tom Rothrock. In fact, he's done a bit of an Elliott Smith this time around.

The first track, 'Exit Stage Right', isn't really a track at all, clocking in at 21 seconds, but already we can hear the general tone and mood of this record: lots of bells, lots of glockenspiel, lots of piano. A gentle collection once again. 'A Peak You Reach' is the first real song, and it starts off like the theme from a sitcom. With its pulsing beat, funkified bass lines, and general playfulness, it's easy to close your eyes and hear this one playing during the film's opening credits (possibly a hurried Hugh Grant, rushing to catch the bus to work? It's quite possible.). 'Something To Talk About' is not only the album's early centrepiece, but also its highlight. Revisited again instrumentally on 'I Love NYE', it possesses a beautiful and beautifully simple melody and should rightfully be a single. The current single, 'Silent Sigh', is eerily reminiscent of The Waterboys ('Whole Of The Moon' anyone?), with its gasping vocals, whereas 'River-Sea-Ocean', after its guitar-driven, 'Disillusion'-style intro, will certainly appeal to Badly Drawn Boy fans. It's on 'SPAT' and the instrumental 'Delta (Little Boy Blues)' that Damon Gough offers up a few surprises. The former sounds like a Yorkshire brass band clashing with The Gap Band, with its funky workout, while the latter is a potpourri of influences, with - once again - a funk groove serving as its backbone. The album is closed with BDB's very own Xmas carol 'Donna & Blitzen'.

All in all, 'About A Boy' might come across as a bit of a mixed bag upon first listen. Still, the charms are there, certainly, and it's a relief to see that Damon Gough is able to fit his often shambolic work into the confines of a Major Motion Picture without losing his own quirky angle. Give the songs - and yes, the fragments - time to grow on you, and you'll be humming along soon enough.

http://www.kindamuzik.net/recensie/badly-drawn-boy/about-a-boy/1441/
Meer Badly Drawn Boy op KindaMuzik: http://www.kindamuzik.net/artiest/badly-drawn-boy