Melee sound like Ben Folds. There’s no denying this but there’s also something different about their certain brand of catchy-as-hell poppiness and the addition of rocking guitar lines tweaks Folds’ regular drum / bass / piano formula in a way that’s most inviting. The piano is less crucial to the sound and more an embellishment of insanely good pop songs that, if they were played on the radio all day, everyone would be super happy. Except maybe metallers. ‘Frequently Baby‘ is sort of retro in its sound and its driving, ridiculously camp chorus is so smile-inducing that you may need muscle relaxants to wipe the smile away again. You’ll be singing along from the outset. There’s just no stopping the singalong with tunes like this. A vital summertime discovery, if slightly of the cheese variety.
Melee are off on tour with the old Folds-meister and Counting Crows in a couple of months. Imagine the hero worship that’ll be happening right there! It’ll be like the master and his protégés just chilling. I wonder if he’ll be giving some sort of masterclass…
Winegums