Featured Artist of
February 19, 2019
BABYBIRD - Happy Stupid Nothing
New album released 01/03/2018
Digital/Ltd Gatefold CD
Alternative
music legend Babybird releases a new album ‘Happy Stupid Nothing’, on March
1 via Psycho Mafia Recordings. Described as “a dazzling collection of songs
that will surprise many”, it’s the first Babybird material in eight years to
be released via any label. Lead single ‘King Of Nothing’ is available as a free
download.
The million-selling songwriter and cult hero Stephen Jones spent the first half
of this decade reconnecting with his DIY roots, exploring new styles and approaches
with various other projects, producing some intriguing albums, all self-recorded
and self-released. Independence has allowed him to dig deeper creatively, taking
more risks without having to worry about commercial expectations. These projects
have breathed new life into Babybird, which was reborn once again in 2015 as
a completely self-sufficient musical enterprise. ‘Happy Stupid Nothing’ collects
together some of the best Babybird recordings from the last few years, and stands
as a magnificent journey of an album in its own right. Putting infectious melodies
next to black humour, atmospheric soundscapes, tender emotions and unexpected
changes in direction, the 19 songs showcase the many different sides to this
extraordinary musician and his group.
Along with the gold discs, millions of sales, a string of Top 40 hits, Brit
Award nominations, critical acclaim, and a dedicated cult following, Babybird
has also survived the curse and repercussions of a smash hit single, cringe-inducing
endorsements from members of the royal family, issues with record labels, huge
changes in the music industry, and even a heart attack. But Jones remains dedicated
to his cause, and has recently been making some of the best music of his career,
over 20 years after his commercial peak. Meanwhile, people are still listening
to albums such as ‘Ugly Beautiful’ and the fan favourite ‘There’s Something
Going On’ decades later. Long-considered to be one of the most gifted and underrated
songwriters in British music, his remarkable talents are underlined by this
new collection of songs.
The Babybird story begins in the late 1980s when Stephen Jones begins writing
music for a Nottingham-based experimental theatre company. By 1994, he had written
over 400 songs and landed himself a publishing deal, but was unable to get a
recording contract. With great faith in his work, he used his own money to finance
the release of some “lo-fi” albums under the name Baby Bird. Featuring his homemade
demo tracks, the releases were met with critical acclaim and found their way
into the UK indie charts. With guitar groups booming in the mid 90s, Jones got
in on the action by forming his own band. So Baby Bird became Babybird, and
built themselves a following, soon scoring a record deal.
The first “proper” Babybird LP ‘Ugly Beautiful’ contained full-band versions
of songs Jones had previously recorded as demos on the self-released albums.
It went Gold and spawned four Top 40 hits, one of them being the omnipresent
mega-smash ‘You’re Gorgeous’, which went to number 3, staying in the charts
for 19 weeks. The casual pop consumers were probably taken aback when they heard
the rest of ‘Ugly Beautiful’, where the big hit was placed alongside frightening
songs about death and religion, dark lo-fi moments, as well as some more melodic
tracks. There was also the cacophonous, insane ‘King Bing’, Jones’s nine minute
“no thanks” to the music industry and pop stardom. Those who were paying attention
soon learned that there was a lot more to Babybird. A few years later in 1998,
they re-emerged with the darker ‘There’s Something Going On’, an extraordinary
record that delivered another three UK chart entries, including the startling
‘Bad Old Man’, ‘If You’ll Be Mine’ and the wonderful ‘Back Together’. The album
was received well by critics and entered the UK Top 40. The follow-up ‘Bugged’
featured another Top 40 single, ‘The F Word’, which went on to be used as the
theme tune to Gordon Ramsey’s TV series of the same name.
Babybird split in 2000 after departing from their record label, with Stephen
Jones turning to making sinister hip hop with Death Of The Neighbourhood, and
crafting his own solo record ‘Almost Cured Of Sadness’ in 2003. However, a few
years later in 2006, Babybird returned with the 2006 album ‘Between My Ears
There’s Nothing But Music’.
Not every band has Hollywood superstars desperate to play with them, but movie
legend Johnny Depp got his wish granted when he contributed guitar to ‘Unloveable’,
a single taken from the 2010 album ‘Ex Maniac’. Depp also directed the music
video for the song, and appeared again on the 2011 LP ‘The Pleasures Of Self
Destruction’. Babybird was put to rest again shortly afterwards, with Jones
keen to rediscover the essence of his early work with new projects. Recorded
at home, the largely instrumental albums he released as Black Reindeer saw a
departure into more spacious, atmospheric mood pieces. He also spent some time
providing soundtracks to various films and TV shows, as well as self-releasing
a massive amount of work under different aliases via his Bandcamp page. With
no label, Jones now had complete creative freedom, and was able to explore ideas
deeper. He released some weird dance music as Trucker, as well as more of those
cinematic Black Reindeer albums, and some efforts under his own name, including
the mesmerising 2014 album ‘Ambition Expired’.
Babybird was revived in 2015, initially to release some old unearthed demos
and a “final” album. But then came more material, occasionally absorbing aspects
of his other projects like Trucker, Black Reindeer, Arthritis Kid, and Deluder,
but combining it with a rediscovered Babybird essence. Albums arrived in quick
succession: there was ‘Back To The Womb’, 2016’s ‘Life After Death’ and ‘A Bad
Joke’. ‘The Wrong Words’, ‘I Miss Myself’ parts 1 and 2, and double album ‘People
Do Stupid Things’, were all released in 2017. Then came the news that Stephen
Jones had suffered a heart attack. With his health in mind, fans expected him
to at least slow down with his seemingly non-stop recording sessions. Instead,
Jones was already planning his next project, and soon resumed work on ‘The King
Of Nothing’, which was released as three albums. While still bringing out stuff
under other pseudonyms, 2018 delivered more LPs: ‘Selfies Inside The Coffin’,
‘You And Me Is Wrong’, and the strange Halloween concept record ‘Pretending
To Be Dead’. This year has already produced double albums ‘Happyface/Sadface’
and ‘Black Ghost’.
Compiled and curated by indie label Psycho Mafia Recordings, ‘Happy Sad Nothing’
is a collection of songs on a par with the very best Babybird records, and represents
a new creative peak for this unique, restless and distinctive musician. Many
of these songs slipped under the radar or became lost in the vast archive of
music that Jones has published online.
Here, they are proudly and deservedly on display.
The epic, sweeping ‘Feel’ is a powerful tone-setter that would make a fine Bond
theme, and the lairy ‘King Of Nothing’ walks with a sleazy swagger and plenty
of “fuck you” cool. Pretty, elegant patterns fall nicely into place on the elegant
‘Fly’, while the magnificent ‘In Place Of Love’ is a haunting, understated beauty
offering the most enticing hooks. Another genuine Babybird classic, it’s cold
yet comforting. Odd robotic hip hop segue ‘Bonebox’ sets up the romping groove
of ‘The Greatest Thing’; a lively, playful track with a twisted, ominous undercurrent.
We are struck by the electronic horror soundtrack ‘People Do Stupid Thing Part
3’, an unsettling and atmospheric revelation, demonstrating how Jones has become
free to go wherever his musical imagination takes him. The cinematic moods also
find their way into the disturbing centrepiece ‘I Am Not Here’, with Jones sounding
like a helium voiced demon as he utters “I am not who you think I am”. Then
come compounding hums of bass, big sweeping drums, and emotional chords as glowing
vocals soar in the distance. Blending the atmospheric aspects that have grown
through his work with the more melodic touches, it’s a fascinating piece.
‘Football’ arrives sounding like it was taken directly from a late 90s computer
game, with busy synths and dance beats leading nicely into the loose, looping
‘Back To The Field’, a dose of effortless brilliance which floats upon a tasty
little lo-fi rhythm. In direct contrast, the brilliantly produced ‘I Am Not
Done’ serves up spine-tingling drama, earworm verses, and a sensational, defiant
chorus. It’s complimented by searing techno instrumental ‘Little Hope’, before
the arrival of ‘Vacuous’, a self-deprecating moment of joy that offers another
irresistible singalong. As well as a gift for memorable hooks and a penchant
for dark humour, Jones is known for being an expert in crafting heartbreaking
piano ballads, and the glorious ‘Love Life’ is up there with the very best of
them. Another surprise comes in the form of the crashing, cascading soundscapes
of post-rock instrumental medley ‘Happiness Peaks And Dips/Robot Streaker/The
Moments Before/Cataclysm’, taking the album down yet another fascinating path.
Dramatic northern disco stunner ‘Love Is Not Enough’ is probably a number 1
hit in some parallel universe where justice always prevails, again masterfully
arranged and produced by Jones. The triumphant ‘Bad Feeling’ doesn’t take long
to capture the ears, and provides further proof that the Babybird magic is back
in full effect. The collection is completed by the lost classic ‘The Weight
Of My Sin’, an anthemic tearjerker recorded during the sessions for 2011’s ‘The
Pleasures Of Self Destruction’.
A limited edition gatefold CD is available to pre-order at
http://psychomafia.bandcamp.com/album/happy-stupid-nothing-2
Babybird are currently on tour with Dodgy, playing in venues around the UK during
February and March.
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