Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds - AKA . . . What A Life
Following an almost unprecedented 18 months in the wilderness where he dared to keep a low profile and shun the need for headlines, Gallagher senior emerged from his post Oasis hibernation this Summer to assure us that now he was back, it would be business as usual. Cue the much missed slagging of modern indie bands, Liam, the music industry in general and even an appearance on Newsnight. The hair, clothes and general 'rock and roll star cum grumpy old bloke' demeanour were still very much the same as well. The one thing that did receive a spruce however, was the music.
Gone was the Oasis wall of sound and indulgent guitar solos and in their place, a more stripped back, Kinks gone folk selection of melodies. Then, there was this. If the New Orleans brass on 'The Death of You and Me' made ears prick up, then the rumbling disco drums on 'AKA . . . What A Life' blew them clean off the side of our heads. No Beatles or Status Quo comparisons could be made and instead cynics and critics tried to wrap their heads around the idea of a man approaching middle age deciding to undergo an electro revival.
Gallagher has oft evoked fond memories of his acid fuelled nights at The Hacienda during the late 80's but, until this, had never set them to music. It almost borders on sacrilege to anoint a song with barely any guitars whatsoever as being Noel Gallagher's greatest achievement since the mid 90's, but on his lonesome, Gallagher has finally been able to channel his inner wizard. Now Noel, about that Amorphous Androgynous collaboration . . .
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