THE SUPERIMPOSERS – MISSING (LITTLE LEAGUE)
May 8th, 2006 by soyo
Like fellow Beatles fans, Oasis, this follow up to last year’s self-titled album The Superimposers’ sound bears a heavy debt to those blokes from Liverpool. Unlike Oasis though, The Superimposers shy away from rock noise and attitude. They leave the Marshall stacks behind and opt for a more pop influenced, hippy era- Beatles sound.
A second album from these guys could have been tricky considering the critical acclaim of the first. Avoiding their own hype and lucrative tour offers they got their heads down and got stuck in to creating more music. In fact they fell so far off the radar that according to the publicity issued with album, The Superimposers are actually “missing”, choose to believe that or not yourself. (Check the band’s website for the lowdown)
Using label mate Boston Rodriguez to assist on production duties (not sure whether this was with the band’s knowledge or not), “Missing” sounds like the result of a chance studio meeting between Brian Wilson and John Lennon. Though never quite matching up to the output that such a fantasy music team would suggest, it nonetheless comes across as a more than worthwhile product.
Imbued with the all important post everything attitude and computer aided production methods, the album is all you could wish for as a knowing homage to psychedelic pop.
Stand out tracks include the super short “Dont Letcha”, worth mentioning if only for the cheeky sample of the theme tune from TV series “Tales of the Unexpected”. “Holes in the Air” could be the next backing tune for Sony’s little coloured balls bouncing down the street. (In fact The Superimposers have been remixing Jose Gonzalez). The timeless quality of “Leave it All Behind” picks up where 80 psychedelic World Party left off on the “Goodbye Jumbo” album. Despite the strength of these songs it is the cover and tribute to Sun Ra ” I Wait for You” that tops the pile. Some dreamy hammond organ and spacey jazz makes this the instant choice for the first single off the album.
For such heartwarming record, it seems surprising that the knives are out on both sides. The band seem to want nothing to do with the release, whilst the small label that has put it out, are probably wanting to recoup back some of the money invested in it. Regardless of the contractual ins & outs, musically it’s a little pearl.
