And now for something completely different – or rather, novel. As might be expected from a band named Mr Hudson & The Library (actually, it sounds like something out of Cluedo), this London-based act have borrowed the title for their debut album from Charles Dickens.
Given the musical originality showcased over these 12 brilliant tracks, Hudson and his bookish chums could easily wind up being just as popular. They certainly live up to Great Expectations.
Effortlessly cross-pollinating between musical genres, they’re near impossible to pigeonhole (though Joe Strummer’s Mescaleros – who were also signed to Mercury – occasionally come to mind).
Steel drums, bass, piano, electric drums and the kind of percussion more normally associated with reggae, hip-hop or R&B all smoothly blend to create a truly unique and ever-changing sound.
No two tracks are the same. Urban opener ‘On The Street Where You Live’ begins with traffic samples, before a heavy bass and Hudson’s ever so slightly falsetto vocals kick in. This segues nicely into ‘Brave The Cold’ – an uplifting number where “Double brandies triple-glaze the cold.”
Mr Hudson comes across as a sort of male version of Lily Allen at times – still young, but already world weary, cynical and post-drug (on ‘Bread And Roses’ he sings, “You don’t need all the lines/And the rocks that you smoke from time to time”). Speaking of which, he also peddles a neat line in druggy wit – “I need a line/the chat-up kind this time/to steal the deal in time” (‘Too Late, Too Late’). With its cheery piano riff and rainfall samples, ‘Everything Happens To Me’ sounds like a Noughties Cole Porter: “I’ve emailed and I’ve phoned/Sent a text message or two/You told me to piss off/For that, respect is due.”
However, the two melancholic closing ballads ‘Ghosts’ and ‘Upon The Heath’ hint at a deeper and darker lyrical sensibility not fully mined on previous tracks.
Apparently, they’re currently embarked on a tour of UK libraries. Needless to say, they deserve to be checked out. Once you do, though, you probably won’t want to return them.