Search - Billy Nicholls :: Would You Believe

Excellent

Bill Your 'Free Form FM Handi Cyber | Mahwah, NJ USA | 09/10/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Like Love's Forever Changes, this album by Billy Nicholls is one of the few in the post-Pet Sounds, Sgt. Pepper flood that works.



Would You Beleive features Nicholls' own songs, full of strings, tuba, sleigh chimes, all the bells and whistles you would expect on a 1968 barouque pop album.



Most of these tracks are condenced songs with a folk-pop base, which Nicholls filters through his orchestrations. Everyone after Sgt. Pepper, from Frank Sinatra to the Stones, tried to make an album to fill the mandate the mighty Beatles set.



The differance is the writting. Nicholls' constructions are solid and simple, and these bare bones lend themselves perfectly to his tasteful, layerd arranging. The strings are classical, not easy listening, and the chimes melodic, not sappy. This creates beautiful, high end pop.



If there is a weak spot here, and this is debatable, it is the mix. Would You Beleive has a big, Spectoresqe eccho. There is an argument for this. Nicholls' mixes everything a step back, and the music almost sounds like it is comming down from the sky. A heavenly sound for heavenly music. This does not nessaseraly detract, but giving Would Yo Beleive the upfront sound of, say, Revolver, may have made for a cozier, more inntimate listen. This music is as comforting as hot chocolate, so why the distance?



Still, any fan of good 1960s music needs to own this as much as Forever Changes, Sgt Pepper or Pet Sounds."