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Open Mouth / Dexy
Split Single
(R*E*P*E*A*T / Angry Liberal)
Review by Ben Yates on Drowned in Sound
I’ve been following Open Mouth for some time now
- half a year, to be precise. It only recently occurred to me though
that Seymour Glass’ songwriting with Open Mouth might actually
be more accomplished than anything he ever did with Miss Black America.
The songs I’ve heard so far distance themselves from the past,
the history, and discord of yore. It's strange listening to this record
for a number of reasons. Firstly, Miss Black America were a band that
sound-tracked many teenage years, so for some, any veneration for Open
Mouth will inevitably deflect back onto them again. Secondly, as this
is essentially just a voice and a guitar, Seymour's voice sounds a lot
more intimate; it feels like you're intruding on the inner sanctum of
his emotions.
‘Castle Keep’ doesn’t quite get going until past the two-minute
mark. Of course, the acoustic guitar-led first half works well in context
the second time round, but it only works as a build-up to the song’s
defining the moment – the part where a shoegaze-like swirl of electric
guitars cascade into consciousness, uniting in some musical chemistry
and exacting the kind of energy that leaves you speechless for moments
after. It’s this kind of fare which has meant his demo given to me
half year ago has become scratched and worn after months of heavy rotation
in my CD player. This song is worth the asking price alone.
Dexy – the second act on this split single – is another songwriter
from London town, but plays in an entirely different field. Whereas Open
Mouth’s influences range from The Verve to Tori Amos, Dexy listens
to Bob Dylan and Ryan Adams, Elliott Smith and Blur. I’m sure Dexy
will be the first to concede that his music’s not a musical revolution
of sorts, but his loveable acoustic-pop formula rooted in an alt-country
tradition should see him rise to ascendancy. ‘Waiting For An Accident’
– the joyous assemblage of harmonica melodies, acoustic guitars and
Dexy’s whimsical vocals – is indie-pop at its finest: earnest,
fun, and naggingly catchy.
Go fetch.
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