After the impressive turn by The Overtones on Dancing on Ice last week, as house band, I have been inspired to listen to some of their stuff, and I am hugely impressed.
There seems to be a big market at the moment for bands who nod their heads, and tip their trilby hats to the music of times gone by, and update it, into an accessible and somehow strangely modern formula. The Overtones are one of these bands. They evoke images of 1950’s America, barbershop quartets, doo-wop, and swing music, and they were exceptional last week on the show.
Their album, Good Ol’ Fashioned Love is also a diamond in the rough.
It would not necessarily ever be an album you would pick up on, without seeing or hearing them first. I had heard of their name, but didn’t know what type of music they sang, or what style they were. I only picked up the record off the back of their killer track Why Do Fools Fall In Love?, which is so unashamedly retro, but still with a lot of swagger and effortless “cool” about it.
An inspired debut, released towards the back of last year, this really is a feel good compilation of great music. It has also rapidly been making its way up the charts this week, indicative of how good they sounded on the telly last Sunday night. They are London based, but to listen to them, they could be from across the pond, back in the doo-wop heyday. You would never know. They are simply that good.
Across this debut they showcase a lot of original material, with the aforesaid track, Sh Boom (Life Could Be A Dream) and Gambling Man, being clear favourites from the first listen, along with In The Still Of The Night, and Carolyn. A brilliant Billy Joel cover in The Longest Time, is also an inspired choice.
It is really easy listening, and hugely enjoyable. It wouldn’t fit every mood, but for a laid back album to really fall in love with, The Overtones debut is a really good place to start. They are at the forefront in what seems to be a renaissance for music of this model, and they are very accomplished and tight as a vocal unit. The harmonies are brilliant, and I am really glad that I gave this a chance to wow me.
7.5/10
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