Lokomotiv Stockport: Press

If someone were to tell me this was a long-lost collection of Smiths rarities, I might be compelled to believe them. Indeed, Lokomotiv Stockport, the lo-fi solo project of Frank Pelham (whose old band once appeared on a Cog Sinister compilation), plays music highly influenced by his legendary compatriots. And while My Jangling Heart isn't the next The Queen is Dead, it is a competent collection of appropriately jangly, distinctly British pop songs.

The main knock on Pelham's album is its inconsistency. Indeed, there are some incredulously charming songs here. "Me and My Bicycle" is an uplifting, personal indie pop gem ala The Ocean Blue, while sorrowfully mesmerizing "I Don't Know How to Love Her" sees Pelham at his glorious, jangly best. However, not all of My Jangling Heart's ten songs turn out so peachy. "All the Things" and "A Woman's World" are melodically mild, while lowlight "Candle to an Iceberg" is a plodding exercise in tedium. Somewhere between the good and the bad lie unmistakable Smiths ringer "Strangely Drawn" and infectious "Having an Affair," which reminds me of recent work by Chris Cacavas. Dreamy "I'm Not Dreaming" is also worthy of note for its 16 Lovers Lane era Go-Betweens approximation.

As might be expected from a home-produced CDR release, My Jangling Heart is a record that includes too much. At times, Lokomotiv Stockport hints at his overwhelming potential, as on aforementioned "I Don't Know How to Love Her." But as it is, this is an album with an EP's worth of release-worthy songs. Still, Pelham's penchant for lush, melodic indie pop cannot be denied - with a touch more attention to detail, his next record could be a doozy.

Like a third-tier version of the Smiths or Depeche Mode, UK's Lokomotiv Stockport lay mopey vocals over overdramatic and shoegazing indie pop. At their best, they've got a decent New Romantic thing going, but the vocals range from bearably flat to off-key, and the music suffers from what sounds like amateurism studio noodling.

It seems as though no one wants to bill their work as pop music any more. That would be déclassé…much better to be “downtempo, ambient, trip hop, house, acid, blah blah”. All of this slicing of musical genres into thinner sub-genres is just more marketing nonsense aimed at trying to differentiate music that is otherwise run of the mill and uninspiring. The run-of-the-mill-ness is camouflaged by all the in your face attitude you find in so many artists these days. Apparently, being obnoxious substitutes for talent.

Lokomotiv Stockport bills itself as simple, intelligent pop music. For once, the billing is accurate. No PR bullshit to be found on Stockport’s music, or on the website, for that matter. LS is really the creation of Frank Pelham working out of his own studio, making music on his own.

Music on this CD harks back to the early 60’s style. I’m reminded of some of the Beatles’ work before they got really famous. One song even reminds me of the Herman’s Hermits sound. So it’s simple because it’s accessible and easy to listen to. You don’t need an attitude or be in a minority to listen to the music. And that makes it pop because it’s aimed at a general audience.

Intelligent? Well I’ll grant you that it’s fairly smart. Pelham’s had a tough row to hoe in his life and some of this feelings and thoughts are bound to show up in his music. But he doesn’t wallow in the victim mudhole the way many songwriters do. And we’re not treated to endless detail on why his life hasn’t gone very well. The songs are a little self-involved, so I guess we could call it a personal album.

Pelham plays all the instruments featured on the recording and I assume he engineered the album as well. Everything is well balanced and placed in the right location on the audio stage; too many home recordings exhibit unevenness in the sound engineering and production.

I can’t say I’m wild about any particular song on this CD, but I really enjoyed the early pop ambience that Pelham conjured up and I’m looking forward to hearing more of his work.

Summary: Well written songs showcasing early pop music sensibilities. Well worth buying if you miss the old days.

Frank Pelham has recorded ten songs "about romantic pain and incompetence" it says in the press materials. Pelham's struggled with ill health of both body and soul, but still managed to get these songs done. Musically he draws from a log tradition of English pop music that's influenced so many.

Opener "Strangely Drawn" is sad and somehow Northern as it speaks of the singer's jangling heart. "I Don't Know How To Love Her" anticipates the end of a relationship even as it goes on, and is very Morrissey in its soft yet cutting way. It's not terribly cheerful but it's not overly depressing either. Pelham stays on the right side of cliché for the most part during this album.

"I'm Not Dreaming" is a song that dares to hope a little, even as it admits defeat. "Like a Candle to an Iceberg" intones "I'm Melting Veery Slowly" to a catchy tune. There might be hope, but it wont happen that fast.

Copyright © 2008 Anna Maria Stjärnell

Lokomotiv Stockport released My Jangling Heart, which is full of lush poppy catchy music with songs that speak from the heart like the opening track called. Strangely Drawn where Frank Pelham sings about strained relationship with his father, and repeating the phrase, ‘I’m just cold and I wanna get home,’ hence the comfort of being at home.

Frank Pelham’s vocals has a nice, warm and haunting northern accent, which goes well when singing track two, I don’t know how to love her.

While I listen to the rest of the album I get a sense of country music with little riffs played on the guitar, an airy sound of northern soul, plus an ‘old sixties’ pop sound, which is very good.