The Egg – Forwards (Bar de Lune)
May 26th, 2004 by soyo
The publicity blurb that came with my copy of “Forwards” seems a little confused with what to classify the Egg as, saying “..don’t use the word chill-out or cult status”. But elsewhere in the text it celebrates the fact that that they are a “Big Chill favourite” and in the Egg’s attached biography says ”…it shouldn’t be long before the world finally catches on to the biggest cult band in Britain”. These are clues to why the Egg are so special, and in part to why, in 2000, they were dropped from the China Records label (now thankfully rectified by bar de lune) – they don’t pigeonhole very well. As far as I’m concerned the Egg pigeonhole very well: nice and neatly into the Big Chill’s wonderful wide world of Chill Out.
That is “our” world view of Chill Out. A world view that is found at Big Chill events and on these here web pages. It is a world where floaty ambient sounds lay down with soul infused drum n’ bass. Cheeky rappers like Cassette Boy and DJ Rubbish can play a couple of hundred yards away from the sparsely magnificent electronica of Murcof, or John Peel playing Status Quo (OK ..sorry but you know what I mean) and most importantly where the paying punters enjoy and rejoice in such broad and eclectic tastes. The world that the Egg (and almost every artist that appears at or is connected to the Big Chill) does *not* inhabit is the coffee table, or racks in motorway service stations filled with chill out “Now that’s what I call relaxation” compilations.
I suppose that it is hardly surprising that the promotion companies and record labels find “Chill” a dirty word, if only they would dig a little deeper. Nevermind, their loss is our gain.
So to the album. If all you know of the Egg is “Venice Beach”, well that’s fine. If you have witnessed the funky live shows, again no problem. Creators of the Egg, Ned and Maff Scott can do funky and downtempo with equal ease and expertise.
Opening track , the uplifting “Wall” sounds like a song U2 had wished they had written, complete with throbbing Adam Clayton type bass line, but with light almost whimsical vocals. Next up is “Venice Beach”, a track I first heard a couple of years ago at a VJ festival in Leeds where the Egg were playing a warm up gig in a pub before the main event. Naturally the Egg’s audio and visual mini feast was better than the main overblown event. After their show, Maff and Ned being such nice guys, rewarded our compliments on their performance with freebies into the main event. “Carry these for us and we can pretend you are our roadies” We duly carried in a mic stand and 2 cables!
“Walking Away” relies heavily on the more organic sounds of guitars, brass and proper drums to convey the emotional tenor. So too does “Funky Dube” bouncing along with funky chunky guitars, and the obligatory “Oooh look I’m new a Dad” kiddie gurgling sample – aaah luverly. “Walk On The Snow” is a “Venice Beach” for the North Pole, icy piano blasts, glacial strings and a laidback drum track leading you over the whiteness, gently crunching underfoot.
“Say You Will” got me all confused, I thought I was suddenly listening to something by Fragile State, maybe its something in the water in the Bar de Lune camp causing them all make great music. Title track “Forwards” goes for a full-on rock out, but always in polite fashion, and is simply…very Glasto! It will get the crowd at Eastnor either shaking their butts in the Sun, or thanking God for having something to dance to to keep everybody warm. “She’s Terrific” will likewise do the same, but on a much more funked up level, I can just picture people turn to each with big grins on hearing the sample “what are you doing?” “nothing special”, it replies – perfect. “Always There” opens with a bassline that is straight from the Talking Heads (Tina Weymouth) you are gonna dance – like it or not, school. The album closes with two slower tracks “ Angel Of My Soul” and my favourite, the harmonica tinged “Lost At Sea”, both setting you up for some serious over use of the repeat play function.
“Forwards” has been a long time coming, but is destined to become one of the “must have” summer albums of 2004. The Egg fans that have kept the faith won’t be disappointed, and new converts to the cult (oops I said it) are surely guaranteed. Book your patch of grass at Eastnor now!
Soyo
4.25 out of 5
‘Forwards’ by Egg is out 12th July 2004.
