Rosie And The Goldbug - Lover Single Review (2008)

To go with the album review, here is a review of 'Lover' for The Music Magazine.

I'm glad I reviewed the album first. I would have quite a different single review otherwise.

The review:

'Lover' is the lead song from Rosie And The Goldbug's eponymous debut album and not quite representative of the band's sound and self-realised projected image. Quoting Siouxsie and The Banshees, The Cure and Kate Bush as influences and wanting desperately not to be just another 'indie guitar band', it is more commercial and mainstream than you might expect. It is this paradox that is a source of intrigue. Is there more to Rosie And The Goldbug than gothic demeanour and a love for wind swept lonely Cornish moors?

For a band which does not have a lead guitarist it seems to go against well established principles to use one. But 'Lover' is driven forward by bassist Pixie who provides a persistent backing to the usually more prominent piano, keyboards and drums. For the first minute there is a more subdued arrangement with Rosie's voice the more striking; with sultry overtones, she sings "I love the way you move; want to get inside of you. Please make me safe again, please make me safe again...". The polished echo on the chorus as she repeats the song's title is too predictable and when the full instrumentation comes in, the relentless guitar and drum sound flattens everything. Thankfully this is not a problem for long as the ideas begin to flow. A keyboard melody joins in for the next verse, followed by a blast of stomping piano, then a short drum solo (from the ever present and dynamic Plums) in which the guitars build again for the rousing, if slightly tuneless, finale. It is a shame that the lyrics simply repeat without the same kind of flow and invention as the music.

As a single, 'Lover' is both radio friendly and a good advert for the album - two very important and much needed traits. However the song misrepresents the band's overall sound which is a dangerous and slightly baffling move. The last thing you want to do is raise the expectations of fans with false promises. "Beware of supposed 'gothic art-punks' bearing 'indie guitar-driven' gifts".

-- CS (for The Music Magazine)