land-lovers-angeline-audio-premiere

Land Lovers – “Angeline” (audio) (premiere)

Irish indie pop band Land Lovers look to the late '50s and early '60s for inspiration and focuses on creating little nuggets of delicious pop confection.

Irish indie pop band Land Lovers look to the late ’50s and early ’60s for inspiration and focuses on creating little nuggets of delicious pop confection. For example on “Angeline”, which we are premiering today, one can hear the jangly pop guitars and pristine harmonies of the Searchers (think “Needles and Pins”). Land Lovers are no retro project though, they simply draw ideas from popular music of the past and then expand on them in a modern fashion. Land Lovers will appeal to fans of melodic guitar pop and anyone with an ear for a great hook. Like the great British pop band the Beautiful South, or Paul Heaton’s earlier project, the Housemartins, Land Lovers use ironic, critical and occasionally dark lyrics underneath the sheen of gorgeous music. It’s subversive and relevant, just what a memorable pop tunes needs.

Lead singer Padraig Cooney tells PopMatters that “‘Angeline’ is rooted in our love for the time when rock ‘n roll got a bit sophisticated in the late ’50s and early ’60s. It’s a foot in the waters of Bobby Darin, Carole King and Joe Meek. It’s lyrically faithful to that time too, with its school setting, but as with many Land Lovers songs, we’ve tried to invest common tropes with something else: something sinister, or high minded or conceited or satirical. In this case, the complacent singer mistakes harmless teenage messing for dangerous gang activity and overestimates his own subsequent success in gaining a place in ‘the firmament’. However: we think it’s important not to deliver this kind of song with an eyebrow arched. It’s a sincere pop ballad.”

Land Lovers’ new album, The Rooks Have Returned release May 16th on Popical Island.