Single Review :: Paul Orwell - Tell Me, Tell Me

Paul Orwell

Tell Me, Tell Me/Little Reason

July 21 2014 (Heavy Soul Records)

8/10

Words: Dave Beech

Did the '60s have swagger? Everyone knows that it swung, but did it swug? Is swag even a verb that can have a past tense, at least when used in the irritating context it's used in today? What am I even talking about? The point I'm trying to make is, if their was ever a decade that had actual swagger and not the cringe-worthy kind Nicki Minaj tries to epitomise, then it was the '60s. Unfortunately for London-based multi-instrumentalist Paul Orwell, his blend of '60s garage-pop meets '90s mod revival doesn't quite work. At least visually, that is.

As far as catchy, summery pop goes, you couldn't get much better. And that's what makes Orwell's insistence on acting the part so annoying: his music does it all for him. Released on a limited run of 250 7” records, 'Tell Me, Tell Me' and it's B-side 'Little Reason' are two perfectly crafted slices of garage-pop that sound like Jake Bugg if he fronted The Castaways. Lead single 'Tell Me...' relies heavily on typically '60s guitars that jangle along with both organ and keys in the background. At less than three minutes, it sticks true to its inspirations too; a perfect length for a single.

B-Side 'Little Reason' has been online for a while now, so fans of Orwell should already be familiar with it. Following a similar path to 'Tell Me...', though this time relying far more on distorted guitars and rich organ hooks that make it heavier than its flipside, drawing from the garage rock of the decade as opposed to its poppier sibling. Whilst his music and overall composition may be well and truly indebted to the sounds of the Swinging Sixties, his vocal is a product of the time in which he was brought up, sharing far more in common with today's contemporary troubadours than the likes of Woody Guthrie or Bob Dylan.

It's easy to see Paul Orwell going places, particularly when acts like the aforementioned Jake Bugg are held in such high regard by both fans of rock and pop music. Frustratingly, his Richard Ashcroft '90s 'swagger' will also find fans, especially with all this '20 years since Brit-pop' bollocks. Annoying haircuts and music videos aside, however, this is music for the summer, however little we have. So make the most of it and give it a listen.