REVIEW: Edwyn Collins, I'm Not Following You (Setanta/Epic)
- Patrick Carmosino
Scotsman Edwyn Collins has made a career, or maybe an anti-career, of not following anyone. This LP vouches for that because it delightfully sounds like nothing you'll hear in 1997. The follow-up to 1995's solo breakthrough Gorgeous George (Setanta/Bar None) continues Collins' fascination with kitschy 70's soul, 60's Northern Soul, analogue synth exercises and rebel/punk angst all compressed into a dazzlingly claustrophobic mix.
Amongst the sparklers on this disc are the singles "Keep On Burning" and "The Magic Piper Of Love". "Keep On Burning" rips apart just about all current forms of pop while championing British soul traditions yet creating something fresh and edgy, always looking ahead. "The Magic Piper Of Love" cleverly borrows trademark riffs from such diverse sources as House Of Pain and The Velvet Underground and gives it a charm all its own.
Other highlights include the disco pastiche "Seventies Night" which features a hysterically craggy cameo vocal from The Fall's Mark E. Smith. "No One Waved Goodbye" is pure Fred Neil (circa "Everybody's Talkin'") meets Joe Meek as Edwyn mates 60's country with spooky mellotrons and caps it off with his classic quivering croon. "Downer" is a rocker that brings to mind "The Campaign For Real Rock" from Gorgeous George .
It's also in the way that Edwyn has not followed that his attraction lies. Like fellow Scotsman Roddy Frame, Collins' trade has a lot to do with a charm, style and delivery that has always been a match for his substance. With "Adidas World" though, Edwyn uses agitprop to an almost uncharming, unclever degree. Maybe it's because I wear a bit of it myself, but I think he could come up with something a bit more unique to tear down the tri-striped New York Yankees-outfitting mega-conglom than "Don't want to live in an adidas world with the adidas boys and the adidas girls". It's more propaganda than clever satire, although it most definitely rocks.
But if direct lyrics are Edwyn Collins' worst sins than I say let him get things off his chest all he wants. Because I'm Not Following You is necessary listening. In four solo albums' time, Collins has turned pop and soul music on its ear and has removed retro style from retro stylings, all the while, building a lyrical body of work as transcendent as Roddy Frame, Billy Bragg, Stephin Merrit, Lloyd Cole, Kirsty MaColl, Morrissey and Paul Heaton. Edwyn Collins was once part of the 'sound of young Scotland'. Now, he is the sound of Scotland. Keep on burning indeed!
