Gomez - Whatever's On Your Mind (Album)
» Gomez announces Splendour sideshows - May 20, 2011
» Gomez - Astor Theatre, WA - August 7, 2011
» Gomez - Palace Theatre, The (formerly The Metro), Vic - August 4, 2011
» New Tides Coming In: Gomez - January 13, 2009
» It’s Gomez, Jim. But not as we know them, Captain. - April 6, 2006
» Gomez - Factory Theatre, NSW - August 3, 2011
» Gomez - Esplanade Hotel, The, Vic - January 13, 2009
Gomez are musical scientists; their albums are laboratories, doors open, with incomplete experiments, failures and successes still on the bench tops.
Whereas most bands would only open the lab doors once they have cleaned up, Gomez are content to allow the listener access to, as it were, whatever’s on their mind at the time of recording. It makes for eclectic and often surprising records.
This is the strength and weakness of Gomez: they do not have a formula.
Album opener, Options, is a typical Ian Ball composition that shuffles past the brain and makes its way to your toes, finding its melodic way back into your mouth throughout the day. It is an ironic celebration of the plight of modern young men. (“I could settle down and be responsible and be a good man / and learn how to fix things, baby / That’s OK, at least I’ve got options.”)
Tom Gray takes the lead for I Will Take You There, with Beatlesque echoed vocals and one of the most infectious choruses on the record. Listen out for Ghostbusters-style synths, glockenspiels and saxophones here.
That Wolf is another stand-out Gray song. Oddball and unpredictable, and with a chorus at around 20 seconds, this is Gomez at their most likeable; varied instrumentation, singalong simplicity and harmonies everywhere.
After stealing the spotlight on 2009’s A New Tide, Ben Ockewell’s offerings are surprisingly middle of the road this time around. The passion of the title track is lost beneath the spotless heels of a
philharmonic orchestra, while Our Goodbye sounds like the work of a musical scientist with a beaker of 70s rock ballads.
At least they’re experimenting.
This is genre-blurring stuff. Alt-rock, glam, Nashville, country, dance hall, top 40 pop and other styles yet to be named.
The Place and the People evolves from an awkward Sugar Ray tribute to an intelligent and epic exploration of the four chords at the heart of the chorus.
Song In My Heart is a compelling and direct infusion of electronic sounds, a sticking drum beat and beautiful vocalization.
Equalize is intricately grand and joyous, with afro-beat drums and rockin’, overdriven bass.
Drummer Olly Peacock deserves a mention. At times syncopated and offbeat, always creative (listen for the stuttering, near timeless ride cymbal rhythm in the outro of X-Rays) and attentive, his drumming is a firm foundation for a room full of musicians mixing their potions.
Gomez’s seventh studio album, Whatever’s On Your Mind won’t change your life, but it will make it more fun. Get in the lab.
