Do we really have to go over this again? Gomez are from Southport near Manchester. They have three singers and play a bluesy 70s melange. They won the Mercury Music Prize in 1998 with their debut 'Bring It On'. They toured the globe for yonks and then disappeared to get excited about music again. Now they are back with 'In Our Gun' to share that excitement.
And, all their graft is not in vain. 'In Our Gun' achieves something very few albums do - it is a cohesive body of work. Now, cohesive doesn't mean themed. The lyrics are largely unintelligible, thereby eradicating any chance of a theme. But the music just ebbs and flows one song into the next until it is all over and you just put the needle back onto track one.
Not straying too far from the familiar - Gomez consolidate their charms. But this new work sounds so much more open and fresh. It's a cornucopia of sounds from backwards prog rock flange, full fledge squawking horns, electric white boy blues guitar with some down-home folkish touches.
'Shot Shot's tasty delta blues riffage, bellowing quasi-free jazz sax and melodic harmonies make it a natural choice of single. But there are so many little beauties here. Title track 'In Our Gun' comes off all shy and gentle with its twangy acoustic guitars and silky harmonies then throws a curve ball electric flash in at the end. 'Sound Of Sounds' has a Byrds-like jangle to it - you can almost feel the California (or Southport) sand between your toes. Closing tune 'Ballad Of Nice And Easy' is just that and brings the album splendidly full circle.
So what is it that elevates this perfectly rambling charm to greatness? Well, unlike many of the darlings of the current scene, Gomez' obvious antecedents are not simply reprocessed and delivered anew with all the right fashion cues. Let's face it, you're not likely to catch Kate Moss straining to get into a Gomez gig anytime soon. This is music meditated on by musicians, musicians who take their influences and build something new and wonderful from them. They may no longer be the bright young things that wowed the Mercury panel but Gomez continue to make powerfully relevant music.
