Review: The Futureheads – The No.1 Song In Heaven/Meet Me Halfway
Gospel undercoated, ambient backing is all that accompanies the longing, echoing and slower than normal cry of Barry Hyde to introduce the adventurous a cappella cover of The Sparks’, ‘The No.1 Song in Heaven’. There is a blasé tongue in cheek element that filters into the lofty vocal approach and playful “de dee didlleeee” backing. Whether it is mockery of Sunday morning praising or they are just giving way to their playful side? Whatever it is, it still leaves you questioning the merits in abandoning their signature guitar hook laden approach.
The a cappella fountain flowing, continues with laboured vocal exercising, introducing the echoing blues slanted, Black-Eyed Peas cover, ‘Meet Me Halfway’. Just when you expect the song to build up towards a thrusting indie/mod twisting energetic chorus; the pedestrian pace simply continues. Given that the approach that The Futureheads have taken to these covers, makes you focus on the lyrics. You can’t help but feel that they might have chosen songs with a little more lyrical depth?
