The Big Stage

Simple Minds: Graffiti Soul

Graffiti Soul is Simple Minds 15th studio album. It was produced by the band along with Jez Coad & it was mixed by Bob Clearmountain in Santa Monica, California.  The songs were written in Rome, Sicily, Antwerp & Glasgow. The core Simple Minds line-up of Jim Kerr (vocals), Charlie Burchill (guitar, keyboards), Mel Gaynor (drums) & Eddie Duffy (bass) recorded the material at Rockfield studios near Monmouth, Wales.

Simple Minds Graffiti Soul Release date 25^th May 2009

Moscow Underground

To start this new collection of songs is the driving pulsating Moscow Underground. Eddie’s signature spine forming bass takes this track on a journey of an intriguing, haunting, atmospheric drive. I can almost visualise the video in my head for this song – increasingly dark but optimistic. The track is layered on mood & colour. Charlie’s presence ever felt with his signature “side of a mountain” guitars & Mel driving the song forward – an excellent opener to “Graffiti Soul”

Rockets

The debut single to be released from the album.  A classic Simple Minds pop offering –  radio friendly, catchy, guitar led and full of energy. The keyboard parts take this song back in time with a very Bowie 70’s feel. The bands early influences drive this track into 2009.  A lot of new bands strive for this sound & don’t even get close to it. “Rockets” is sure to have its fair share of success & ‘A’ list radio play – a good song to represent the album.

Stars will lead the way

Pure Simple Minds! The opening guitar riff is stunning – so much stronger & up front than any other song on the album. Jim’s signature story telling approach to this song is accompanied alongside a Charango (The Charango is a small South American stringed instrument of the lute family, about 66 cm long, traditionally made with the shell of the back of an armadillo. It typically has 10 strings in five courses of 2 strings each, although other variations exist). The song has a sunset Asian feel to it, made more so by the backing vocals. I predict this song as a potential top ten in Europe. The track is full of layers & an over the mountain feel, born to be played live – a great potential live opener.

Light Travels

Reminiscing of early Simple Minds, ‘Light Travels’ is a shadow of early electro driven pop but as the song progresses the acoustic guitar parts fill up the background.  The line in the song “Things get better after they get worse” is a good way to describe the elevated nature of this song. With guitars screaming at the end, another journey orientated song – a bit like a stately home – old, but when you are inside you are totally blown away not by nostalgia but grander.

Kiss & Fly

This song has a different feel to others on the album. The nearest to a continuation from the “Black & White” recording sessions.  Lots of light & shade with the chorus driving the whole thing forward. Dangling guitars elevating what seems to be a ballad but takes a complete different direction with the backing vocals really lifting this track into a moody place with a glimmer of hope constantly lifting to the end.

Graffiti Soul

Graffiti Soul the title track of the album. Taking on the future, with a reminiscence of “Once upon a time”. A very strong song representing the outstanding strength of the new chapter of Simple Minds. Definite contender for the next single.  The words “you bring me lightning” echo right to the very last note of this open optimistic track. Graffiti as an art, or an eye sore, leaves the question open! After all “taste is the enemy of art!”

Blood Type O

A piano driven behind a layer of vintage electro keys – very melodic with Jim’s voice distorted in places with cloudy harmonies. Very inside itself with a retro feel all around this song, Charlie has put his stamp on this with a selection of different instruments that breath life into the haunting flight that is Blood Type O.

This is it

Guitar driven classic Simple Minds, the last track on the record which completes this collection of new material. Mel ups the anti in this one. A live dream – constantly driving the Minds into the next chapter. Charlie’s signature guitar takes this song pounding to the end, another possible single with huge potential.

Overview

Without any question the strongest collection of new music from Simple Minds for a long time, if this album had been the follow up to Street Fighting Years, history would have been rewritten; Charlie’s guitar is so much more in the mix reminiscing of the “Good News” era. Plus Charlie’s musical ability is now flourishing and more apparent than ever before, so much more than just a guitarist, I hope he gets the recognition he so dearly deserves, this album is Charlie Burchill.

The most annoying thing with new bands of today is the lack of consistency. How can this be the rebirth of a band that has never disappeared off the radar? Is this a mystery?  I don’t think so – great music has no limitations or boundaries, sometimes regulated by trends and desperate attempts to start movements to rewrite history. If you ever wondered why Simple Minds are in a league of their own – to release a collection of songs this strong after 30 odd years in the business – “Graffiti Soul” is the answer!

Simple Minds release their new album “Graffiti Soul” on May 25th via Universal.  The band plays the Isle of Wight Festival on June 14th, Norwich Blickling Hall (July 17), and Liverpool Summer Pops at the Liverpool Echo Arena (July 21).  For further info visit www.simpleminds.com

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