Neon Neon – Stainless Style

It’s all about The Cars. Much has been made of Gryff Rhys and Boom Bip’s concept album about the life of alleged drug smuggler, gull winged car making, Hollywood actress dating maverick John DeLorean. In truth, much of this Neon Neon project calls to mind the synth driven harmonies of Ric Ocasek’s 80’s outfit. While Rhys and Boom Bip (Bryan Hollon to his nearest and dearest) are the mainstays of this project, they are joined by a range of guests, from Har Mar Superstar, Yo Majesty and Spank Rock to The Magic Numbers with varying degrees of success. For an album looking back at one of the most ‘style over content’ decades in recent memory, it was always going to be a challenge for Neon Neon to come away without looking shallow. For the most part, they have succeeded.

Stainless Style is at it’s best with Rhys at the forefront, letting his way with melody have free reign on tracks like ‘Dream Cars’, the Cure-like chime of ‘Steel your Girl’ and the blissful title track, which sees Rhys asking “Oh how many are my foes/ How many rise against me”, while an angelic chorus of Rhys’ own creation coo’s in the background. This is the most straight up pop record Rhys has made for years, possibly ever, and proves him to be one of the most creative, genre hopping songwriters of <!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--> the last 15 years, seemingly able to turn his hand to anything. There seems to be a warm quality to his voice, the lilting accent drawing you in to the story being told. When juxtaposed with the plastic pop surrounding it, Rhys’ voice gives this album a soul. Frankly, I could quite happily sit and listen to him sing the shipping forecast, and, on recent form, that might just be his next project.

Where Stainless Style falls down however is with the more ‘hip-hop’ elements of the record. The sub Missy Elliot-isms of ‘Sweat Shop’ are let down by weak beats and production from Boom Bip, who seems to forget that the rest of the album is a homage to the retro-futurism of the 80’s, turning in a below par Timbaland impersonation. The Neon Neon project, with it’s high concept and brit-pop survivor vocalist has drawn inevitable comparisons with Damon Albarn’s Gorillaz project. However, where the rap songs were the highlights of that project, here they fall flat.

The hook heavy singles ‘Raquel’ and ‘I Lust You’, with it’s critique of celebrity culture ‘selling photos of the new born for the highest fee’ and ‘Carrying the burden of publicity’, show Rhys and Boom Bip know how to construct an infectious tune that will have you humming it long after you stop listening to the record. This is a fine album, full of throw away pop hits infused with a sense of humour. Ultimately however, Stainless Steel will be seen much like DeLorean himself; a slick, stylish curio.

And I didn’t mention Back to the Future once!

Rating: 1.21 Gigawatts (er...81%)

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