The story of God Help the Girl is, by now, pretty familiar to most who may have visited a music-related website and know how to read. Stuart Murdoch of Belle & Sebastian writes movie, recruits singers, records soundtrack. Yes, yes, we know it all. But is it actually any good?
I say yes. The album contains a few riffs and melodies recycled from the B&S catalogue, but it really does nail the whole 60s girl group pop/soul thing. Plus, it's a musical. Wow. I'm listening to the soundtrack of my favourite musical (which hasn't even begun filming, though!). What a thought.The whole idea of the project was enough to excite me, let alone the terrific execution - it actually works. It works. It works!
Today's track is the one off the album that first caught my attention, and its style and form truly represents the most part of the album - there's now way this girl's looking for a boyfriend, and she;s letting me know in style, with a strong girl group vibe - one lead, a few backing - present throughout, as well as plucked and bowed strings flowing behind the piano chords, which places nicely next to the groovy baseline. Not to mention the truly terrific vocal performance by the girl whose name I should know by now, and who is, in my mind, skipping down Main Street throwing out flowers from her picnic basket while protesting against having to wait for her boyfriend's phone calls. She's reinventing fun. This song also seems to reinvent a great deal, with this project's old-time influences ever-so clear, but still manages to make it sound so 2009 - the year of the musical!
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