38SCR

SERIOUS WOMEN: “38SCR” (38 Records)

Serious Women is a man called David Constantine and 38SCR – South Circular Road – is his debut DIY album. (Serious Women? Takes a bit of figuring out, so it does.)

The press release states that, “38SCR was recorded in a bedsit this summer. It took 6 weeks of begging, stealing and borrowing and 1 day to mix . . . It doesn’t get more DIY than this. The producer Martin Clancy lives upstairs. The artwork was done down the hall and Aisling Cronin on the 1st floor runs the whole show.”

But let’s get down to the music. It’s not bad, not bad at all. There’s a strong Prince funky feel, there’s a nose for a good pop melody, and the lyrics are alright too. The sound quality and production – DIY or no DIY – is always professional.

‘Fucked’ starts off the album. Guaranteed to get plenty of airplay, it’s very much in the funky mode, jogging along on high-pitched vocal backing and some necessary funky guitar. “’Cause he was fucked, he was fucked/From the moment he woke up/From the first little sip/Of his loving mother’s cup.”

‘White Lies’ is even more directly funky, as is ‘Baby’. Things then begin to get poppy/melancholy with ‘Song Of Myself’ and ‘Daddy’. Sensitive songs these, from the young romantic who can’t face the cruel reality of living like a man.

However, it’s the straight-up, hummable pop of ‘Wonderful Life’, which is my favourite track. There is no reason why this couldn’t be a hit, as it has all the necessary hooks and melodies, with a chorus I couldn’t help but sing along to. ‘Unnatural Love’ is a boppy, bouncy pop song, with strings attached. The album ends in an ethereal, melancholy form with ‘Beautiful Losers’, a song which float along carrying lost love in its heart.

38SCR is a fine funk/pop album. The fact that it’s DIY is immaterial, because the sound quality is excellent throughout. It’s only available by mail order. So, if you’re interested, send £5 to Serious Women – you’ve guessed it – 38 South Circular Road, Dublin 8.

• Gerry McGovern