Encouraged no end to hear very fine long time Londoner American guitarist Matt Backer – best known as part of ABC down the years and on Rumer classic Seasons of My Soul – sounding so great in action with the Neasden Queen of Soul, none other than Miss Behive herself – the very same – pop star Mari Wilson.
This new album is full of Wilson co-writes and it opens very well with the ultra positive tubular bell bedecked Kate Garraway documentary Derek’s Story inspired ‘Good News’ fattened out by meaty grooves from Tim Goodyear and the sparkling keys of Adrian York who co-writes the songs with Wilson who is now 71. The high quality persists throughout.
Dressing up’s what we stand for, sings Mari Wilson
There’s a bit of psychedelia and it kind of feels like the 1980s in spirit but don’t hold that against it if 80s phobic. If so, you have probably arrived at the wrong album. Other notable songs include a nod to clubbing at the Camden Palace and the relationship reflection ‘Tomatoes in the Fridge,’ ‘Come On Out’ plus “lovely” tracks like the Philly Soul inspired ‘Love Letter’.
But everything here is lovely and indeed lovable and isn’t dumb pop at all. Surely it will pick up airplay on all sorts of radio stations, or am I being just naive or delusional again?
Wilson first rose to fame in the early 1980s as well known as anything else for her spectacular barnet, band The Wilsations and chart hits like ‘Just What I’ve Always Wanted’ and ‘Cry Me A River’ that ended up on the very credible Showpeople. She’s done musical theatre roles in Taboo and Dusty The Musical and recorded the Coupling theme ‘Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps’ and worked with pride of Rochdale lovely Barb Jungr and the great jazz singer Claire Martin in Girl Talk too. Always a retro-ist Girl About Town also reels in the years but doesn’t care how throwback the sound turns out or is indeed considered. As any mug knows after all fine writing and playing like this isn’t going to go out of fashion any time soon.
- Mari Wilson plays London’s Cadogan Hall on 4 October and tours
