They say Christmas is a time for giving and Squarehead certainly aren't ones to break with tradition. As a thank you to all those who "came to the gigs, bought our album or just 'liked' our Facebewk" the lads have covered Darlene Love's festive classic 'Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)' and made it available to all (good or bad) as a free download. Complete with backing vocals from the newly enlisted 'Squarettes' - Saileóg O'Halloran and Lucy Smyth - it trumps any Lynx boxset or last minute Kris Kindle gift that's for sure...
On a similar note The Gorgeous Colours also posted a cover this week - trying their hand at John Lennon's 'Real Love' on the anniversary of the great man's death. A fitting tribute.
Their last single - 'It's OK To Be Normal' - was something very special indeed and Dublin outfit The Gorgeous Colours have only gone and bettered it. 'Chopped Heart' is as delightful as it is uplifting - the kind of song that you'll like immediately but will then spend a dozen listens trying to figure out exactly why. In short, this is perfectly constructed, joyous pop music and if the scene was an overdue reunion with your closest mates this would be the ideal soundtrack.
Directed by Bob Corish (who taught in my old school for a short time incidentally) and produced by Tidal, here's the official video for The Gorgeous Colours' latest single 'It's OK To Be Normal'. I loved the track when it emerged recently, and the excellently crafted video only adds to its splendour.
The band play the Body & Soul main stage at this year's Electric Picnic festival.
And just like that a dreary Monday got a whole lot better. Upon listening to the new one from The Gorgeous Colours my mind is awash with words such as lovely, beautiful, charming and other such terms normally spewed by a love-struck, smitten teenager. To be frank though, associating 'It's OK To Be Normal' with anything else would be a blatant disservice to such a deserving track.
Effortlessly compelling and hopelessly endearing, it glides along perfectly; entwining melancholic strings and solemn vocals to create a carefully packaged, utterly romantic track. This is not the sound of the latest 'It' band or of a group over-reaching in pursuit of past glories - rather, this is the sound of a band at ease, doing what they do best, and creating beautiful, beautiful music in the process.
The release party takes place in The Workman's this Thursday. Get on it.
[Via the Torture Garden (amazing blog, check it out)]
