Du Blonde is Beth Jeans Houghton, of Beth Jeans Houghton and The Hooves of Destiny fame (ok, relative fame), whose album Yours Truly, Cellophane Nose we found proficient but a little twee, not to say dull. One Review Cornerer did profess fondness for it and took the CD but we never heard it played.
It seems Houghton felt the same, having a meltdown part way through the recording of the new Hooves album and galloping off for a tour of the States. When she sorted her head out, she’d decided she was more Led Zep that little birds in trees and the Hooves were shown the stable door. Which was bad news for them but good news for the rest of us, as Du Blonde is much better.
She told NME that she was enervated by a bout of death anxiety and then a David Bowie exhibition at the V&A, realising he’d been through many ch-ch-ch-changes over his career, even when people told him he shouldn’t, and that she should do as she pleased. So it’s a very personal album, Du Blonde screaming (and singing) about life while encompassing whatever musical genre takes her fancy. She told that NME that the title was for her discovery that an extra milky latte can beat constipation.
Musically, it’s all over. The opener Black Flag, kicks off like an early U2 song, ambitious and designed to echo round a stadium, with a massive bass line but then veers towards indie and a rocky tribal sound.
After an Eastern-flavoured intro, track two, Chips To Go, gallops along and has lots of indie shouting, with a slight proggy feel.
Track three Raw Honey, has a completely different air: it’s much slower, bluesy and soulful, with an almost slick, West Coast sound. It sees Houghton singing more conventionally.
After The Show is more of the same, a smooth and lush pop tune that is so laid back in places that it sounds like a lullaby.
If You’re Legal brings back the tribal drumming for a joyful, energetic tune (so joyful it includes the line “Knees up, knees up, Mother Brown”) that’s almost Adam Ant from back in the day.
Elswehere there’s country/rock n roll (Hard To Please), 50s teenage rock ‘n’ roll (Young Entertainment) and balls-out indie punk (Mr Hyde).
It’s a strong album. It may be a little too varied for some but we like it; it’ll sound good in a field at a festival. Out now.