The captain(s) in question are Simon Bristoll and Daz Battersby, a duo split between Leeds and Birmingham. Seems strange, but from this ten track offering, it would seem it's helped rather than hindered them.Contained on 'Mindfilming' are some of the breeziest, loveliest and catchiest pop songs since the summer of Britpop landed nearly ten years ago. It's full of beautifully layered harmonies, upbeat rhythms and some catchy as hell guitar riffs.
Vocals go "ahhhh", guitars crunch and clatter, drums plod and bang, and amongst it all, there's a myriad of pianos, synths and keyboards. For fans of upbeat pop music a la Guided By Voices, Teenage Fanclub, etc. this is a revelation. Even for people who would prefer their post rock to their breezy pop, this is still damn good.
It's done impeccably well, as if Bristol and Battersby have been sat on the sidelines for the past few years, taking in everything before starting their take on it all. Standout track 'A Very British Earthquake' pounds and plods, bangs and clangs with pop beauty before melting into 'No Guarantees', a more subdued acoustic ballad, which shows off the Captain's use of dynamics, diversity and damn good song writing.
It's not the most original thing ever, but they know that, I know that, and you probably do too. More Captain Kirk than Captain Birdseye, Captain Wilberforce should be set on course for some glory, however small.
