The Secret to Life

愛すべきミュージシャンと友人たちの集まり, FIZZのデビュー・アルバム。 ドディ、オーラ・ガートランド、グレタ・アイザック、マーティン・ルーク・ブラウン。愛と盲目的な楽観主義から生まれたFIZZは、純粋な喜びと逃避の渦の中で結集し、それぞれのアーティストが知っている音楽制作のすべてを反転させ、楽しさと音楽制作への愛を核としたアルバムを作り上げた。

昨年夏、音の魔術師ピート・マイルズとともにミドル・ファーム・スタジオで誕生した、現実と作り話の狭間に存在する12曲のコレクションだ。
無限で、夢のようで、カラフルで、予測不可能で、もしかしたら答えは最初から彼らの中にあったのかもしれない。
デジスリーブCD、8ページのブックレット付き。

Arriving like a caravan of punky Renaissance Faire theater performers ready to put on a show, Englands FIZZ bring an infectious pop fun to their debut album, 2023s The Secret to Life. An indie pop supergroup of sorts, FIZZ features the combined talents of Irish singer/songwriter Orla Gartland, English singer/songwriter Dodie, Welsh singer/songwriter Greta Isaac, and English singer/songwriter Martin Luke Brown. Each has released their own albums that stretch stylistically across genres from artful dance pop and buzzy rock to candidly rendered folk. And while several FIZZ members have enjoyed success -- both Dodie and Gartland reached the Top Ten in the U.K. with their debut albums -- theres a feeling of community about the band, as if these four quirky individuals found their family of like-minded pop crazies. On The Secret to Life, the foursome bring all their influences and skills to bear, summoning an exuberant, creatively inspired atmosphere. The group purportedly formed after coming out of lockdown from the COVID-19 pandemic, and there is certainly a sense that they are unleashing pent-up energy. Its a feeling they spotlight on "High in Brighton," an anthemic folk-rocker about an ad-hoc trip to the coast. They sing, "I wanna get out my room, its so boring/Crushed under the weight of things that Im ignoring (Shes ignoring)," and "F&#k it, Im leaving, Im out of here/I got a one-way ticket to heaven." The rest of the album feels like they grabbed that ticket and never looked back. Musically, they share vocals throughout the album, taking turns on lead and harmonizing with each other. While the album never sounds like a complete 70s throwback, cuts like "High in Brighton," the swaggering title track, and the glitter rock-infused "Hell of a Ride" certainly evoke the theatrical pomp, wit, and lyricism of Queen. Still, there are welcome surprises, like "As Good as It Gets" with its crunchy Pixies-meets-Paramore chorus, and especially "Close One," a sophisticated ballad sung by Gartland whose yearning melody and sparkling piano riff brings to mind 80s Fleetwood Mac. While the members of FIZZ will most likely return to their solo pursuits, The Secret to Life feels like an album made by a proper band, like four art school friends jumping in their van for a thrilling, singalong road trip. Thankfully, they want to bring you along for the ride. ~ Matt Collar

イングランド出身のドディとマーティン・ルーク・ブラウン、アイルランド出身のオーラ・ガートランド、ウェールズ出身のグレタ・アイザックという、UKで人気のシンガー・ソングライター4名が集まった新グループの初作。ビートルズやクイーンなどを彷彿させるマジカルなポップソングが聴ける一方で、ジョニ・ミッチェル風のフォーキーな曲などもあり、音楽性の幅はかなり広い。各々が自由奔放に才能を発揮したソロ作品集と言った趣で、その個性の違いを楽しめる作品と言って良いだろう。明らかに楽しんで演奏しており、そのポジティヴなムードが否が応でも聴き手に伝わりますね。
bounce (C)赤瀧洋二