Search - Aberfeldy :: Young Forever

Best record, possibly ever

Edward Hall | cincinnati, ohio | 01/21/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Every time I listen to Aberfeldy's Young Forever I want to write a gushing review telling the world what they're missing, which is possibly the best, most amazing record of my lifetime....so for about the two-hundredth time, here it goes.



So you might see on Amazon or Allmusic that this record is being put into the twee-pop and chamber pop genres. On first glance Aberfeldy may just seem like another band out to copy the magic of the great 60's pop innovators like Phil Spector and his 'wall of sound' or the genius of Leiber & Stoller. Their music spawned an era of music that was like no other, putting bands like the Beach Boys and countless girl-groups like The Ronettes and The Exciters at the heart of everybody that either wanted to play pop music or just enjoyed being taken away by its innocence, often campy, soulful sound. There are thousands of bands who've been inspired by it, most of them nowhere near creating a similar vibe, so why should Aberfeldy be any different?



What people seem to forget about producers like Phil Spector and Leiber & Stoller is that their music made you generally happier than you were before you started listening. Whether the message was sad or bitter, jovial or revengeful, it made quiet people who didn't dance, want to get up and tryout for a show tune. Though it remained simple, it was the uniqueness of the composition and the originality that made it different. Since that era of music has ended, no band has recreated the same feeling. Sure some bands have copied the sound exactly, not introducing an ounce of originality, but we both know that's not the same thing, at all. The majority of music being classified as twee or chamber pop and influenced by Spector, while sometimes interesting, is usually pretty boring and can put you fast sleep. The campiness is gone. The innocence is gone. The dance factor, nowhere in sight; and the quirkiness is out the door. The happiness that you get from the gleeful pop is a mere memory. Nowhere will you find a myriad of instruments, ranging from bells, Bodhran drums, lap steel guitars, guitarros, trombones, fiddle, glockenspiel, organ, piano along with your basic instruments and beautiful boy-girl harmonies, all on the same record, and all on the majority of the tracks, and most importantly, all cleanly composed and played by a virtuoso of Spector's teachings ......until now.



Meet Aberfeldy, a five-piece boy-girl band from Edinburgh, Scotland. The prodigy behind it all is lead-singer, writer, and guitarist Riley Briggs. On Young Forever, Aberfeldy recreate a seventeenth century Renaissance sound, especially with their use of the guitarros and glockenspiel, and update it, a feat very appropriate considering what a rejuvenation of pop music this record is. Riley Briggs is able to take themes ranging from space abduction to eternal youthfulness and put clever lyrics to them atop that reincarnated wall of sound. In addition, Young Forever fully lives up to its title in that it successfully captures an essence of youth not only in their bouncy musical compositions but in their sweet, innocent lyrics as well. Young Forever overflows with twelve un-skippable songs of sunshine and smiling faces, of young love and heart-tingling field-trip escapades to the chocolate factory.



But don't get me wrong, this is not just a sugary, substance-free band like the 1960's group, 1910 Fruitgum Company that wrote songs about bubble-gum and board games. Though they capture innocence in a similar way, Aberfeldy's genius again comes out in their ability to link that childish innocence with their more `adult' song themes of true love and relationship-induced inebriation. Aberfeldy takes the simple, fundamental, sometimes irrational, mindset of youth and writes a witty, romantic, and sometimes outright campy record, that rivals anything in pop music history. Its wittiness shines in absolutely every song, but in particular on the song "Love Is an Arrow" when Briggs sings: "Love is a verb and a noun as well / You find it in a dictionary under 'L' / They give you a description to spell it out / But they don't say what it's all about... Love is a good way to lose a friend / It's a two-faced liar that you can't defend / Love is a force that invades your heart / It starts to take it all apart." Clever, but not in a brooding or pretentious tone, instead it just makes you smile and be happy; and that's the case for the whole thirty-eight minutes of Young Forever-happiness.

-Eddie Hall"

One of the freshest albums I've heard in years.

Nick Damato | Columbus, Ohio USA | 03/15/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"What a great album. I don't think there's a bad song on this album. The band uses all kinds of different instrumentation from bells, to xylophones, to violins to primitive electronic keyboards. The music is simple, but well developed. There is surprising variety from one song to the next. Each song is a little bit different and the sound doesn't get old by the end of the album as so often happens. The music itself is fresh and original. My favorites are probably: "Vegetarian Restaurant" and "Helopolis by Night", "Summer's Gone", and "Don't Slow me Down".



I don't write many reviews on here, but this one was worth mentioning. Highly recommended.

"

An Open Book

Lee Armstrong | Winterville, NC United States | 02/14/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This band from Edinburgh, Scotland is an utter delight. While the CD cover of amorous lions might raise a few eyebrows, the sound is quite a delight. Fans of bands Thrills & Beulah will find things to love. I have 3 favorites on the CD. "Love Is An Arrow" is a happy tune that brings to mind the sunny disposition of the Hollies with an addictive melody. "Tie One On" is another delightful track that sounds positively sunny although the lyric is about a brokenhearted lover, "The love we had that once was cherished is perished." "Slow Me Down" is currently in my own personal top ten with its throbbing beat that sets your toe tapping and puts a smile on your face, "I'm an open book, but you can take a look." The rest of the tracks on "Young Forever" are also strong with no clinkers. "What You Do" is dreamy and wistful while "Heliopolis By Night" bounces joyfully at a manic pace. Aberfeldy's disc is a wonderful joy, light & airy, sunny & bright. Enjoy!"