It has been a while since Wet Wet Wet have released a studio album. Ten years to be precise and it has been even longer since I have bought one as I missed out on 1997's 10 as I was too busy being a cool indie chick at university. During those year we have all grown older. The Wets have split up , had various problems and got back together. I have changed from the teenager I was and diversified a lot in my musical taste . However the Wets are back with their new album Timeless recorded on their own record label (so I suppose technically they are indie now!) and being a more self assured 30 year old I was not embarrassed to rush out and buy the album.
The first thing you notice about the album is the cover. It is by by Klaus Voormann who also designed the seminal cover for Revolver by the Beatles. I think this was a good move and i do like the cover as it is beautifully drawn and feels quite classic. I would certainly like to have a poster of the cover on my wall.
On first hearing Timeless I felt a bit cheated and underwhelmed due to my high expectations.
It was not an immediate album compared to High On The Happy Side or Picture This, which had some instantly likable song such as Somewhere Somehow, Don't want to Forgive Me Now or Lip Service. I felt it was very polished, had too many string arrangements for the sake of it and too many slow songs. The only song that stood out for me was the final track What Do You Know as it is quite Beatlesque and bouncy even though it is very much a mid tempo song. I like it as it is one of the simpler songs where the strings are not too obtrusive and there is a nice little organ riff from Neil Mitchell. I had loved their single Too Many People as it was quite dancey and funky even if it did sound a bit like George Michael at times. I was disappointed to find that the album mix was different being and not so up beat with horn an a guitar solo. I've grown to like it but still prefer the single version.
However on subsequent listens I found much to like about Timeless. The Wets are older and can not write Sweet Little Mystery again but they have taken risks on the album and this has paid off. A prime example is the album opener Run. This son is pure drama and reminds me of Live and let Die with its tight rhythm section, a blistering rocky guitar riff courtesy of the talented Graeme Dufin intertwined with grand strings. On top of this Marti's voice swoops elegantly whilst the other Wet's sing the catchy backing vocals. The Bond comparisons continue on the suave and sophisticated Eyes Wide Open. This has more of a late night lounge feel than the rockier Run due to the understated horns and a mesmerishg vocals of Marti. Eyes wide Open is reprised at the end of the album for an orchestral version, which I do like to listen to as it does sound slightly moody and grand. Heaven is different again wish wonderful eerie backing vocals that remind me of the ones to Life in a Northern Town. Heaven is a good title for it as it is quite spacey and floaty as is Weightless, which has hints of Bowie's Space Odyssey about it.
The best song for me lyrically is New Age Sacrifice. Surprisingly enough it is not a love song. Instead it's a song about the modern cult of celebrity and takes a swipe at the Heat culture of people being adore for not doing anything apart from appear on a reality tv show. The following lyrics always make me smile as it sums up the Cahtelle's, Chanelles and Jades of the world perfectly.
Roll-up roll-up come watch the show You can read the number one book What I wrote you know Buy my t-shirt, the perfume and the fitness video I think you need me in your life
The Wets growing older does have some advantages. Marti's voice has matured a lot and they can tackle genres that would have sounded silly on a twenty something lad. An example of this is In Every Heart (a Fire Burns), which has a country feel to it and a vocal reminiscent of the late great Roy Orbison. Marti carries it off perfectly and it is a pleasure to listen to especially the ending where he shows what powerful voice he does have.
Unfortunately there are songs I am not so keen on. I find the slightly country Real Life and I Believe bland, insipid and a bit unmemorable. They remind me of the ballads on the second half of Picture This such as Morning and I've never been particularly fond of them. Thru the night is pure syrup and reminds me of a combination of the Beatles Long and Winding Road and a Carpenters ballad complete with obligatory strings and just too saccharine lyrics. It does sound quite pretty and it is nicely sung but its not for me.
Timeless does have its moments especially when they take a risk and try something new out. However the sickly sweet ballads spoil it for me. It is not a bad album at all and I think anyone who quite likes the Wets will quite like this. I doubt it will win over new fans even with tracks such as the fabulous Run. It is an album I quite like and probably prefer it to 1989's Holding Back the River but it is is never going to top High On The Happy Side as that was sheer class but its different.
I pre ordered my copy from Townsend Records for £9.99but you can get it on Amazon for £8.99.
Pictures of Timeless - Wet Wet Wet
My copy of Timeles personally signed by the Wets
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'Timeless' is the eighth studio album from housewives' favourite and one of the most ... more
successful Scottish pop acts of all time, Wet Wet Wet. Fans eagerly awaited the follow up to their 1997 album '10' which saw the band temporarily disband soon after it...
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