Melody can be a dangerous thing, according to Sevenoaks-based band Good Books. But while catchy tunes may never be cool, once pop music is imaginative, it rarely ceases to inspire and affect any listening ears. When GoodBooks try to convey this formula, they tend to repeat Hot Chip’s rather simple ethos- “we love the idea of ‘pop’ music but not the people who make ‘pop’ music now.”
A neatly surmised philosophy is about the only lead GoodBooks have taken from elsewhere though. Part Orange Juice, part The Cure and part Talking Heads, but as blindingly original as they are deviously infectious. Somewhere between Max’s subtly affecting vocals, Leo and Chris’ vivacious rhythm section and JP’s Johnny-Greenwood-in-a-small-room keyboard collection, a sound that is uniquely GoodBooks emerges.
Born the day four teenage GoodBooks waited to audition a new bassist and ended up writing what would become their debut single, the band have always had an inherent sense of self assuredness. Such conviction may explain an instantly impressive live set that belies their lack of experience on record. That experience nevertheless began last March, when Transgressive Records lovingly put their blistering debut Walk With Me on the shelves.
And although Walk With Me is all about loneliness, GoodBooks are perhaps at their best when regaling tales in the third person. Take Leni, the band’s latest single, a song inspired by a Franz Kafka novel - or live favourite Passchendaele, a fable of father and son who die in consecutive world wars. All, of course, receive the Midas GoodBooks’ pop touch.
What else? Well besides both tangibly released singles, there was August’s free to download Turn It Back, two and a half minutes to leave you wondering how something so simple can be so eye-wateringly good. There was also the small matter of a deal struck with Columbia Records allowing the band to hibernate into the studio with hot new producer Dan Grech. With the resulting debut album due out in time for the festivals, GoodBooks will soon become that band you feel you’ve known your whole life.
Passchendaele, a quiet village in Belgium where one of the most intense battles of World War One was fought, relays a strong but peaceful story telling the tale of a father and son who both fought in the Great Wars. The song concludes by questioning the fact that despite so many well-meaning slogans and resolutions, a whole century has passed and we are still engaged in bitter conflict around the world.
Control was produced by Dan Grech-Marguerat, and recorded at RAK studios in London. Alternating between optimism and despair, GoodBooks ask the question – who is really in Control?
Live dates, downloads and more info:www.ilovegoodbooks.com WIN SIGNED COPIES OF GOODBOOKS' DEBUT ALBUM!
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And although Walk With Me is all about loneliness, GoodBooks are perhaps at their best when regaling tales in the third person. Take Leni, the band’s latest single, a song inspired by a Franz Kafka novel - or live favourite Passchendaele, a fable of father and son who die in consecutive world wars. All, of course, receive the Midas GoodBooks’ pop touch.
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