Play 90 second soundbite of 'Fat Alan' @ 'CD quality'
Old Street Musical Union don't just cross musical genre they smash down the boundaries and positively redefine anything that's even remotely 'popular'. Alt-rock-pop perhaps but actually much much more! Reminiscent of a kaleidoscopic mix of The Kinks, Madness, Blur and quite a few others, Old Street Musical Union are breathtakingly original and massively entertaining. With story-telling lyrics that cover a multitude of topics, an appealingly comedic bent and a slightly self-deprecating demeanour, Old Street Musical Union refuse to be pigeonholed or labelled. Theirs is a music of the people, for the people! Theirs is musical entertainment that doesn't always take itself too seriously, knows when to give it large and knows when to 'camp' it up. Theirs is universal music rather than world music, the term universal describing Old Street Musical Union's penchant for visionary, all-encompassing, musical modernity that knows no bounds and takes no prisoners.
This eponymously titled album by Old Street Musical Union is an absolute joy to behold; as I listen I'm not feeling any pressure to conform, I don't feel the need to actually understand what I'm hearing, I feel that I can just let myself ride the waves created by this fantastic outfit and not worry about anything else around me. Old Street Musical Union make music that you don't have to think about, it doesn't actually matter what they're singing about coz they're not trying to preach or convert, they're just being absolutely open, friendly and accessible. Old Street Musical Union have an weird element that puts me in mind of the old jug bands that were quirky and entertaining without really trying to make statements or trying to convert the listener. The buzz here is the same sort of buzz - good fun, good music, good health mine's a pint of bitter!!
Old Street Musical Union are a five-piece but sound bigger, they comprise Mike Hibberd (guitar, vocals, harmonica), Matt Hibberd (guitar), Jim Chamberlain (bass, vocals), Andy Burt (drums, percussion) and Nick Kenwright (vocals, keyboards, harmonica and ukulele (ukelele?)) - such talent!! (is that Andy Burt ex of RedEye Band?). These guys demonstrate superb all-round musicianship, excellent multi-part harmonies, fantastic songwriting and superb vision to have created this extremely original and motivational sound and style - I love it!!
Old Street Musical Union make compelling music, generate an exciting ambience and give the listener something worthwhile and valuable to listen to and lose themselves in. 'Kin' brilliant!!
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