Whatever It Is

モノクロームの黄金律が極彩色のセルフィーで微笑む21世紀のマジカル・ミステリー・ツアー。
ハロー・フォーエヴァー、満を持して世界デビュー。

すでにザ・ビートルズ『Magical Mystery Tour』やザ・ビーチ・ボーイズ『Pet Sounds』といった不朽の名盤たちの意匠をダーティー・プロジェクターズ以降のインディ・マナーで再生する大型新人バンドとして新旧音楽ファンの間で話題を呼びつつあるLAのインディー・コレクティヴ=ハロー・フォーエヴァーの1stアルバムが満を持して〈Rough Trade〉より世界リリース決定!
ニール・ヤング『After the Gold Rush』やキャプテン・ビーフハート『Trout Mask Replica』が生まれた太平洋を高くから望む牧歌的な土地で、メンバーが共同生活を送るカリフォルニア州トパンガで制作された本作は、ビートルズ直系のメロディーと祝祭感溢れるバンド・サウンドが眩いデビュー・シングル「Some Faith」、珠玉のメロディーと胸躍るハーモニーが花吹雪く人気曲「Anywhere Is Everywhere」、ブライアン・ウィルソンとデイヴ・ロングストレスが共同でペンを走らせたようなラヴ・ソング「I Want to Marry You」を含む全12曲を収録。
ポップ、ロック、リズム&ブルース、ソウル、ドゥーワップ、ジャズ、ゴスペル、サイケ…、輝かしい60年代の音楽レガシーを無垢に受け継ぐ天才シンガー・ソングライター、サミュエル・ジョセフ率いる21世紀のフラワー・チルドレンによる2020年下半期大注目作!!

A vibrant psychedelic pop group under the tight quality control of lead singer and songwriter Samuel Joseph, Los Angeles Countys Hello Forever make their debut with Whatever It Is. The 12-track set was culled from 200 days of recording sessions, an indulgence evident in the results. Its an album where Freddie Mercury-like vocal performances and soaring melodies can run in tandem with Technicolor harmonies and razor-sharp guitar riffs as part of a high-contrast design that also navigates graceful acoustic textures, often within the same song. The composite sound evokes not only Queen and Josephs idols, the Beach Boys (he intentionally attended the same colleges as Brian Wilson), but studio-era Beatles, ELO, and others from among the more crystalline yet trippy pop/rock of 60s and 70s. These songs arent stuck in the past, however, with the band drawing comparisons to contemporaries like Vampire Weekend early on, as well. Another trait of the debut is uniformly positive lyrics, as on romantic opener Some Faith, a song that recalls scenes of falling in love before ending with an imitation of the closing notes of Twist and Shout. Over the course of the next ten songs, Whatever It Is borrows from doo wop (Anywhere Is Everywhere), West Coast folk-rock (Get It Right), soul (Rise), arena rock (Natural), and more without ever cutting its tether to affectionate -- if highly stylized -- pop. An album for cranking up and singing along to, it offers a breather with closer Happening, a spare acoustic track that leaves listeners with the impression of a live campfire recording. While impressive for its sonic depths and melodic feats, perhaps the albums greatest accomplishment is that, even at its relatively generous length, each song is a potential fan favorite. [The Rough Trade vinyl and CD editions contain an additional two worthwhile tracks.] ~ Marcy Donelson