Being 42 now, I grew up in the 80s, and I have many fond memories of listening to the Top 40 on the radio on a Sunday night. Because there was no Internet streaming and no real sense of nostalgia for the present or recent past, I’d get a buzz from simply hearing music in the moment, but clinging to some of the favourites by taping them off the radio (in the event, home taping didn’t kill music, and I’m not convinced the Internet did either) or picking up the double vinyl ‘Now That’s What I Call Music’ compilations.
But even at the time, I was acutely aware that a lot of what was floating around was overproduced dross, and there isn’t a single ‘Now’ compilation that doesn’t feature at least one song I have no recollection of ever having heard. L.A.D. have distilled the most tedious elements of slickened soul, disco and pop to forge a limp facsimile of Five Star / Taylor Dayne / Miami Sound Machine and myriad one hit wonders (the kind where you wonder how they had a hit). As such, ‘One More Night’ calls to mind those random ‘Now’ inclusions.
|
I mean, the smoochy synthy bass and cheesy drum machine fills are one thing, and the bland but overblown vocals another. But the synth sax / guitar break? Really, there is simply no excuse.
I only hope they’re aware of the fact the song shares its title with a Phil Collins hit from 1985, or their studied retro obsession isn’t even remotely credible.
|
