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Hard-Fi - 'Can't Get Along (Without You)'

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Fraser McAlpine | 09:24 UK time, Wednesday, 7 November 2007

Hard-FiIt doesn't matter how much you love your stripped back, minimalist music, some songs just DEMAND a full brass section, a full string section, chime-bars, glockenspiels...the complete Phil Spector, basically. And despite what some people may say it's not always a sign of a lack of ideas in the studio (and an open instrument cupboard). Sometimes MORE is more...

And Hard-Fi are always better when they're keeping their sense of politics on a very personal level, rather than trying to rabble-rouse. And it's always best, when you've got a song which is pumped up with all these extra instruments, if you can keep the lyrical sentiments rooted to the ground, otherwise it just becomes a balloon within a balloon.

So, even though Richard Archer is singing about topical issues, like being homeless, or taking very hard drugs, or picking fights with blokes twice his size in pubs, it always comes back to the fact that he's doing it because he is heartbroken, which is the kind of reality we can all relate to.

And this is where the sugar-coating on the music comes in especially handy. The desperation of the lyrics and the jauntiness and hugeness of the music fuse together to create this sense of aural relief (please don't read that out loud, I'll get arrested), like RIchard has come to a major realisation. Namely that he's had a run of appalling luck, life has never been worse, but really, none of that matters because he needs to get his girl back.

Hell, add a couple of sleigh-bells (right on the top shelf of the instrument cupboard, next to the vibroslap) and it's practically Christmassy. And anyway, any song which - inadvertedly or otherwise - reminds people of the mighty 'Yes' by McAlmont and Butler is officially OK IN MY BOOK. Get your ears around this...

Four starsDownload: Out now
CD Released: November 12th

(Fraser McAlpine)

Comments

  1. At 09:24 AM on 07 Nov 2007, Roxy wrote:

    YAY 4 stars!! Your last review on Suburban Knights wasn't glowing but this is getting better LOL

    I love this song, I was surprised when I heard it was being released but then I listened to it for a while then I think it's a great tune.

    The lyrics are really good and I think this was going to be on their first album but they didn't think it would suit it so they put it on this new one.

    I love this song and pz plz plz Hard-Fi release Little Angel!

  2. At 03:05 PM on 07 Nov 2007, Lisa wrote:

    OMG YES! I haven't heard that song in ages, yay! :)

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