The Stockport massive are back with their fifth studio record, named after a fibreglass gorilla that was stolen from a Scottish garden centre.
The album's first track Big Star, starts with an almost Pet Shop Boys styled chord progression which is well integrated with Tom Ogden’s mellow vocal delivery. The verses ooze with personality with a catchy hook and chorus.
The second track, What Can I Say After I'm Sorry? which was the first single of the new record. When this was released I wasn’t too sure about it as a standalone track, within the context of the record it doesn’t sound out of place and is a lovely track when listening to the album in full, and it included Sean Dyche in its music video, what’s not to love?
The title track, a love song to a lost fibreglass gorilla from Scotland. This was the first track the band worked on for the album which includes production of course from James Skelly and also Josh-Lloyd Watson from Jungle. It’s class.
I Like Your Look, probably my favourite track on the album, purely because it’s just so out there and so different and includes CMAT. Can’t fault the track at all for its uniqueness and the band’s overall ability in making something fun, silly and different.
The intro to Nightclub is so obviously and highly inspired by Jungle, particularly their most recent album Volcano. The backing vocals and the overall rhythm scream Back on 74.
Perfect Me was the penultimate single of the album which to me sounds like classic Blossoms with a hint of Ribbon Around the Bomb with its constant rhythm and lyrical style and sound.
Mothers’ opening reminds me a lot of an opening by a few Strokes songs, the minimal chord changes within the verses especially. The chorus vocally has this almost fluctuating rhythm which makes the track incredibly catchy.
Cinnamon is almost a part 2 to Romance, Eh? from Foolish Loving Spaces, its great.
Again, Slow Down, like Nightclub sounds like it wouldn’t feel out of place on a Jungle record and has the same feeling as listening to old Blossoms track, My Swimming Brain. The guitar solo has this fuzzy sound which just fills the end of the track perfectly.
The final track on the record Why Do I Give You The Worst Of Me? is the darkest sounding track on the record with its fast paced riff which surely takes inspiration from The Smiths’ What Difference Does It Make or particularly Marr’s famous Rickenbacker guitar sound. The track feels incredibly full and sounds great as an abrupt closer to a fantastic record.