After the polish and pop of last album 'The Invitation To The Voyage', 'Chroma' treads a simpler, more spontaneous path ("I wanted to do a direct, stripped-back guitar album," explains McGuinness), perfectly showcasing his timeless song writing talent. Have we, in these 11 songs and this brisk album, found the 'real' Eugene McGuinness? Only for now. "If you're a singer songwriter, all you do is live with yourself and your whole job is based around you as the individual and what you do," he says. "So in order for me to maintain interest in myself, you have to shake it up," he says. "I'm just a receptor to all those sorts of influences. It's not me being flimsy - I go where my passions are." "If the last record was about travelling, seeing the world and constantly moving" he says, "this one is almost the opposite, because it's about disappearing. Talking about Oasis, The Las, The Kinks, there's a certain spirit of music where they're saying, There's f*ck all to do, so let's dance. This album isn't about me as an individual. It's not an intellectual record or over-produced album. It's just the most honest thing I could have done right now, and I just want it to make anybody who's into it to feel f*cking good about themselves." The eleven-track album was recorded and produced by Dan Carey at his South London studio and features arguably one of the best rhythm sections in the UK - Tom and Leo from The Invisible.
M**S
Eugene McGuinness is consistently proving his worth as time goes by
Eugene McGuinness was a young pop kid when we first heard from him back in 2007. Now he brings us Chroma, and without doubt, the boy has grown into a man. Lauded as an accomplished artist from the start of his career, to have put out such a strong album four records in shows his creative calibre and endurance. McGuinness may have grown up in age, but artistically his music has been beyond its years from the beginning.“Godiva” is the first track and single released from the album, and be warned – it’s got an irresistible bass line hook. Paired with equally punchy second track “Amazing Grace”, this early in you’ll already be infected with the ear worm, but not so much in the boisterous, poppy way of his first album The Early Learnings of Eugene McGuinness; this time it’s more masterful in a way that’s reminiscent of Blur’s Parklife and The Great Escape finesse.Though his musical style has matured on this record, McGuinness is still a titillating young man, and “I Drink Your Milkshake” and “She Paints Houses” are seductive as hell. Most of the rest of the songs are too, but risqué lyrics are buried a little deeper, such as in “Crueller Kind” and “Immortals”. One thing he’s decided to trade on again, as we saw in 2012 release The Invitation to the Voyage is his provocative touch to what would otherwise be quite glossy music.“Heart of Chrome” gets back to simple indie-pop rock roots, as McGuinness has said he wanted to with this record. Chroma is filled with simple, straightforward songs, which have an elegance to them and make for a compact, well rounded album that dots its i’s and crosses its t’s. The songs are perhaps a little short, most coming in at under three minutes; but hey, that’s probably partly what leaves you wanting more over and over, and that can’t be a bad thing.Eugene McGuinness is consistently proving his worth as time goes by – this is an album to grab and an artist to watch.
A**N
Give it a few listens for the Eugene magic
Chroma is not as immediate as its predecessors but after a few listens, the Eugene magic reaches you. Every album he has released has been unique, and this is no different! Loving stand out tracks 'Godiva' (which is virtually one chord the whole way through, and is still amazing!), the next 2 tracks and 'Heart Of Chrome'. Give these songs multiple listens and you will love it as much as his other albums.
J**H
Four Stars
great music!!!
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