You can tell that we are in a truly post-genre age, a time when old tribal demarcations and genre pigeon-holing are far behind us, when a song like “Astonish Me” lands in the review pile with a reassuring thud. It’s the sound of an artist who knows he is truly free to explore the musical landscape, mixing and matching music and inspiration as he goes, finding cool sonic shiny things where they lie and, magpie-like ( to stretch the metaphor to breaking point), bringing them together to feather his own creative nest.
And so, for every crooning, sixties chamber pop groove and singer-songwriter move that Andrew Schneider pours into the song, there are just as many forward-thinking sonic touches, and the bridge between then and now is built on some fantastic sounds. Sounds such as Pulp’s lush anthems, Bowie’s sophisticated adventurousness, and, as I sit here writing this in Swindon, UK, a touch of my own hometown heroes, XTC’s subversive take on pop.
For such a jubilant and cinematic sound, “Astonish Me” delivers an unexpected message, one that highlights and indeed warns of the authoritarian and nihilistic social jackboot that our business, political, and cultural peers are bringing to bear on us, the everyday and largely defenseless man and woman in the street.
It is, excuse the pun, an astonishing song, one that seems to reveal more and more beguiling sonics with each spin – did you get the drifting and mournful trumpets yet? The surf-guitar twangs? The balance of old school analogue and digital deftness? No? Well, play it again, and again, and again….
…and again!
Don’t stop until you have soaked up every tone and texture. (Warning, you might be here for a while!)
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