Stephen EvEns returns after three and a half years with another album that’s even more bonkers than the first two, one of which I reviewed here. It’s full of his eccentric stuff and throws some more curveballs and clever lyrics with all the charm of his oddball quaint perspective of Britain. Lead single A Bee kicks off his comeback in style, a glam rock romp which has hints of greats like Micko & The Mellotronics and the great Denim if you want comparisons. However let me warn you, this is not what you’re going to expect when the full album drops. Read on…
Stephen Gilchrist, the man behind Stephen EvEns and founder of Brixton Hill Studios,
once again brings together a host of incredible talent in new track A Bee, out April 12th, the track comes in advance of his third album, Here Come The Lights, released on March 29th, via Onomatopoeia Records (Hurtling, Barringtone, The Gasman, William D. Drake).
A Bee adds a hint of glamour to the indie-pop, rock elements of the album, with a high
energy glam feel, self-produced, homegrown, and handmade, giving EvEns time to
experiment in the studio. The track emphasises the new optimism of the project, Here Come The Lights, with upbeat pop-tones reminiscent of the B52s, and the glam elements of Roxy Music.
Take some honey, comedian Steve Furst, and A Bee, in this case guitarist Jimi Scandal,
and watch the bee’s multiply, with a nod to the Morecambe and Wise sketch, ‘Class System’, a day in the life of a worker bee buzzing around, fighting fit, and taking aim at
people – in this case Steve Furst, until he joins forces with the Bee’s.
The video concept and direction was the brainchild of Ashley Jones of The Chaos
Engineers whose previous videos for Stephen Evens include Dustbin Man and I Hate Shop
(I Am Shop). Artists that have benefitted from his lens obsessed eye include William D.
Drake, Knifeworld & Cesarians.
Stephen said, “A Bee is based on a joke my pal Jo always tells. She was feeling fed up one
day so I put her song to a moronic little chord pattern and played it over the phone to her. I went away and demoed it and added a ridiculous instrumental section at the end of it to
make her laugh. Naturally the next step was to make my long-suffering band learn it.”
While Stephen Gilchrist performs as the eccentric yet charming Stephen EvEns on vocals,
guitar & programming, A Bee brings new musicians to the project, Nicola Baigent – Baritone Saxophone, Josh Perl – Alto Saxophone, Polysix & Phillicorda, Graham Wright – Trumpet. Mark Reynolds – Tenor Saxophone, plus band members Jimi Scandal – Guitar, Debbie Smith – Bass Guitar and Crompton Wesp on Drums.
Stephen EvEns – Live:
Sunday March 31, The Lexington w/ The Scaramanga Six, Angel Islington
Monday, 11 May, The Prince Albert, Brighton.
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Words by Wayne Carey, Reviews Editor for Louder Than War. His author profile is here
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