You will be forced to like this, but will it stick in your stereo for long?
This album starts off with the lyrically weak 'Glass' but the tune has enough hooks in it so as you don’t get trigger-happy with the skip button. 'Vaselined Eyes' is what's next and that's where the record really starts getting some charm and gaining some serious respect. A bit like a 'Bends' era Radiohead track but not really. (I had to pop that in there as the word 'Radiohead' creeps (hee hee,) up everywhere in Wilberforce's press, two examples: 1. "…a band has taken what Radiohead do best and… they've taken it down the route marked Thom Yorke off his head on one." 2. "Captain Wilberforce just sound like their own band, no hint of Radiohead etc influence." Hmm…)
Well, there's a few similarities to Radiohead, but they're subtle and probably unintentional, this band are their own band and it's likely that they're intelligent enough not to take on the big players. Regardless of all that crap, 'Vaselined Eyes' is a very good song with a real poppy and chirped-up feel about it and the album continues on in that vein from there on in. 'A Very British Earthquake' has a sense of style about it that makes the track stand out a bit above the rest, rocking and ground-shaking with it's rumbly mood that kicks up the Richter Scale.
This band of two people who miraculously make music together though living abosolutely miles from one another have a sound and style that's appealing and different, drawing influence from the likes oh The Beatles and The Boomtown Rats or so it seems, however widespread fame and notoriety probably isn't on the horizon.
The music they create is wholesome and fulfilling, the title track 'Mindfilming' really demonstrates the audacity Captain Wilberforce possess. Together, Simon Bristoll and Daz Battersby have produced a collection of some sweet songs that range from Beach Boy-style fun-loving music to nice and chilled little ditties like the lovely ender 'About Her.'
'Teaching You To Swim' is certainly a highlight too and the lyrics definitely improve as the very short album rides on, getting into some fabulous profundity towards the rear of the record. It's a good point at which to start and hopefully Captain Wilberforce will gain some recognition and airplay for what they've achieved. A cute little ten-song LP that clocks in at just over half an hour, laden with juicy fun hooks and jolly craftsmanship, it's a record worthy of a listen…