Indie rockers return with a new twist on a familiar sound
The fact that my editor initially turned down this EP says it all: Toploader were not cool. But here's the thing... I freakin' love them! Phew, that was therapy. Newly reunited (minus Julian Deane) after the collapse of their S2 label in 2002, absence has certainly made the heart grow fonder.
"Never Stop Wondering" is classic upbeat 'Loader, with soaring, aspirational lyrics, and with gorgeous synth backdrops that form real depth. It's a blast of fresh air that refuses to be pigeonholed into any particular genre. Totally unmistakable, from the familiar vocals and piano to the chirpy guitar and drum work, Toploader still tread that fine line between rock and pop. And they do it well. Proving that "pop music" can have a credible side too, these new offerings show a more mature side of the band than Magic Hotel managed to, but with a more developed sound than Joe's potential solo material of 2006/7 (much of which will appear on this EP's home album, "Only Human").
What I still don't get is why 'Shifting Sand' has been relegated, like the majority of their best work, to 'B-side' status. Nevertheless, it is an anthemic, danceable asset to the EP. The final track is a strange jazz-rock version of the omnipresent 'Dancing in the Moonlight'. How brave. Rather than inducing a sigh of frustration, this version shows just how comfortable the band have become with this musical albatross, to be able to rework it rather than try and break with the past completely. It's actually quite good too, complementing the more serious side of the group.
Criticising this record would be pointless because it is what it is. Marmite; love it or hate it. Personally, it feels good to have the 'Loader back in such fine form...