After the convincing, cauterising crunch of their two previous singles "Even When The Wind Blows" and "Lunatic Perfume", hotly tipped London quartet THE CONWAY STORY return with another impressive, enigma-soaked offering in "Ghostwriter."
And, while the band's customary sandstorm of guitars blows across the song, "Ghostwriter" is slower and moodier than The Conway Story we encountered before. Yes, it's got the bristle and burn of the first two singles, but this time comes with added, flag-waving anthemic aspiration. Mind you, despite Nik Owens' occasional falsetto inflection, that doesn't mean it sinks to the level of Coldplay wannabe in any sense, though it wouldn't be out of place earning significant daytime airplay either. Both of those statements might sound like me damning them with faint praise, incidentally, but that's certainly not the intention: merely a clumsy way of saying The Conway Story are sounding like they could compete on a broader scale if they get the breaks.
Actually, the only thing that confuses a tad is new producer Al Stone's involvement. His previous clients have included non-kindred spirits such as Jamiroquai, so while he apparently hit it off in a big way with The Conways on a personal level, that doesn't mean he's a proven 'rock' producer as such. His inexperience in this field drags the band down slightly, especially where drummer Lenin Alegria is concerned, as the poor guy's saddled with a boxy, plodding snare sound which doesn't exactly help the song along. Yeah, yeah, I know it doesn't spoil the overall feel, but it still needs pointing out.
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Stone seems more at ease with the single's striking B-side, mind. This tune - "Hopeless With Our Hands" - is something of a departure, as it's a frail and delicate piano ballad, with Owens' vocal being shadowed by a lone textural guitar and the song taking on a downbeat, elegant'n'ghostly hue all its' own. It's further accentuated by Owens' fatalistic lyrics, such as "I believe God will save me, maybe set me free and appear in a sign, or an accident designed with me in mind." Bloody hell Nik: have you been supping some foxglove juice with Bill Callahan or summat, lad?
Seriously, though, it's a strange and tingly change of mood that suits The Conway Story surprisingly well. Indeed, if they continue to adhere to the quality control and desire to take chances they've proffered as handshakes thus far, they're only a drum sound away from presenting us with a great debut album. Keep it up, fellas.
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