Rating:
Genre:
Rock
Release Date: 03/18/2003
Mick Bund was the driving force behind the British
indie pop group
Mexico 70. That group's trademarks were huge, cinematic choruses; sincere and catchy melodies guys like
the Wallflowers would kill to write; and the achingly heartfelt vocals of
Bund. On his debut solo recording,
Bund has scaled back the ambition and big sound but has stuck with the songcraft. He recorded
Astronaut Graffiti at home on an eight-track with just
Rick Duce on percussion and
Daren Harris on keyboards for support. The stripped-back approach can often lead to dull records, but
Bund displays a firm grasp of dynamics and makes sure to vary the sound of the songs enough to keep things interesting. And the songs are great.
"Indian Ink" hitches a
Northern soul beat to one of
Bund's best melodies;
"Peace and Love" is an almost-funky ode to, well, peace and love; and
"Sooner Than Later" sounds closest to a
Mexico 70 track, with its swooning melody and sympathetic faux-strings swelling in the background. There really isn't a duff song on the record, and
Bund's voice is beautifully tear-stained throughout. It overflows with laid-back emotion and hooks. Tracks like
"Goalhanger" and the
Smiths-like
"Obsolete Beginners" are going to stick with you for awhile. The record is similar in feel to
Robert Forster's underrated
Warm Nights or
Edwyn Collins' most recent records, only without the inspired wackiness.
Mick Bund is firmly in place as one of the unsung heroes of modern
pop music and
Astronaut Graffiti is a wonderful solo debut. The only trick now is getting people to hear it.
~Tim Sendra, All Music Guide
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