Gabriel Alares – 98

“As guitar pop goes, this is bang on the money”

Tim: The new One Direction album, FOUR, is a great example of guitar pop done very, very well. I mention that now for two reasons: firstly, it deserves to be said, and secondly, so is this, Gabriel’s follow-up to his October debut.

Tim: It cuts the right balance between being too loud and being horribly dull, the vocals are strong and heartfelt, and the progression from verse to chorus and back again is handled very well indeed.

Tom: I think you’re wrong, there. Yes, the tone’s about right, and there’s nothing technically wrong with the vocals: but I don’t get “heartfelt” in there, and I thought, specifically, that the transition into the chorus was rushed — perhaps a bar too early, with nowhere near enough build.

Tim: Huh. Well, maybe I’ve just been feeling unusually complimentary these past couple of days, but this is another track where I really can’t think of much to say against it – as guitar pop goes, this is bang on the money, and I’m happy listening to it a whole lot.

Tom: Well, you do tend to be a much more lenient reviewer than I do: there’s perhaps only one track a month here where I’ll enthusiastically go “YES”. This isn’t that track, but clearly it works for you.

Tim: In fact, I’d quite like a whole album of it, but until then I suppose I do have One Direction.

Gabriel Alares – Dårarna

“That’s a cracking start.”

Tim: FOOLS, we all are, according to Gabriel, Eurovision songwriter and Swedish Idol-contestant, now branching out into singing.

Tim: BOOM, that’s a cracking start, and it’s a little disappointing it drops down straight after the intro, but I won’t complain too much because while it would be nice for some change, that is basically standard fare for verses.

Tom: And somehow, that Swedish sounds filthy.

Tim: Still, the choruses are very nice with their mesh of traditional pop/rock instruments and synths, combined with an enthusiastic vocal line and a shouty oh-oh-oh-etc line – all combining to give actually one of the best choruses I’ve heard in a while.

Tom: The vocals, for some reason, sound a bit 80s to me: perhaps they’re resonating with a memory of a particular song. Top marks for that middle eight, though.

Tim: The closing section I also like, because while the choruses are good, it’s that production in the background that really shines, so it’s nice that that’s been alllowed to take centre stage. All in all, good track.