I always thought that Dodgy were from my hometown of Birmingham but they were indeed formed in Hounslow in 1990 and moved to the cathedral town of Worcester. The band rose to prominence during the Britpop era of the 1990s and are best known for their hits `Staying Out for the Summer`, `If You’re Thinking of Me`, and `Good Enough`. The uplifting `Good Enough` always seems to precede the beginning of Summer and the brief spell of good weather we enjoy, when I hear it blasting on the radio or in television commercials.
Although frequently playing live the band seem to be getting serious once again and release their first album `Hello Beautiful` in a decade, the last being `What Are We Fighting For`.
The album opens with the title track `Hello Beautiful` and it’s a really tender opener, a reflective offering that encourages us all to gain self-respect and value who we really are. There`s a brief but sweet brass fragment in the latter section before the number regains the previous path it trod. Next up is `The Likes of You and Me` an idiomatic phrase that alludes to like-minded people which has hand percussion and a strummed guitar initially before filling out with what i`m sure were strings along with sweet harmonies later and becoming fairly folk like. It brought to mind the encouraging vibe of Stephen Stills classic `Love the one you`re with` from 1970.
`It’s Not The End` is another contemplative composition that seems to hint at a relationship where one is more invested than the other and is set on trying to salvage this association. The at times dreamy accompanying soundtrack kind of reflects the complexity of the situation. There`s a real sixties West coast folk like ambience to `Call it What you Want` which has some wonderfully intricate guitar chords, tinkling piano keys and harmonies that Crosby, Stills and Nash would be proud of. The track veers here and there throughout its lifespan and touches on jazz and has a funky rhythm towards the end with a complementing string section.
`Summer Forever` is a bright heartwarming anthemic seasonal composition, a real foot tapper of a number. A rolling synth and strummed guitar leads us into the rockier `Looking Back` another absorbed nostalgic piece.
`Beside Me` is a romantic ode to that somebody special in your life. There`s harmonies aplenty with `Out of Time` a meditative musing on life and possibly a suggestion as to how to live it for the benefit of all. The last thirty seconds has some communal almost gospel like singing.
`Fall In To Me` is a final thoughtful cut that may well be about being there for somebody in their time of need and exudes a folk rock tinged warmth.
Thirty five years on and the band formed by Nigel Clark, Mathew Priest, and Andy Miller are still making music that is fresh, infectious, charming, radiant, and contagious. These days the numbers are more thoughtful and reflective which comes from the maturity of life experiences. `Hello Beautiful` really sums up this engaging release with numbers that at times move from pensive to uplifting and joyous and will give you a warm glow. This album should be as Queens of the Stone Age allude to the “feel good hit of the Summer.” A welcome return from one of Britian’s most cherished bands.
Rating 9/10
