'Hillside' by Arnold

"Hillside" ARNOLD
(Creation/Columbia)
A FLEA OF A DIFFERENT FEATHER

review by Darren Paltrowitz
photos courtesy of Arnold's web site

Mark Saxby

The formula just doesn't get any easier these days. Spawn three mega-hook top ten singles within a period of five months, sell out a six-month tour of arena-sized venues... and then fade into obscurity. Arnold, named after bassist's Phil Payne's dog, does not follow this path. On 1998's "Hillside," (a follow-up to the previous year's critically acclaimed, lo-fi "The Barn Tapes") the beautiful melody sustains the material -- a strength far more durable.

Thankfully, Arnold is not another band dishing out the 'fifteen minutes' formula, but rather, have a focus on making wonderful, unforgettable music.

The first song "Fleas Don't Fly," offers soft harmony laced vocals and hushed instrumentation, setting a melancholy tone. The gentle semi-acoustic pace continues for the next few tracks but abruptly changes for the fifth song, "Country Biscuit." Clocking in at sixty-two seconds, "Country Biscuit," with its off-key whistling and an out of tune acoustic guitar, was recorded in one take in which the band gathered round a single microphone. Yep! "Curio" is another noteworthy tune which boasts a strong and clear melody above a blend of a simple drum machine, minor keyboard work and an acoustic guitar.

The influences on "Hillside" seem to stem from a wide radius. "Rabbit" is a mood evoking spoken work over soft melody; a perfect target for exploitation by commercial interests -- if Arnold would ever allow such an application. (Highly unlikely.) The hammer-on guitar technique on "Mickey's Mother" is reminiscent of the Led Zeppelin's classic "Over The Hills And Far Away. "Moroccan Roll (Part Two)" may briefly hint a liking of the Lennon/McCartney epic, "I Am The Walrus."

Arnold's "Hillside" proves to the international music scene that, though rare, excellence and integrity in artistry does sell.

The trio of Phil Morris (lead vocals, guitar), Mark Saxby (guitar, vocals), and Phil Payne (bass, vocals) shines as one of England's most promising new bands. Main songwriters Mark Saxby's and Phil Morris' contrasting writing styles infuses the material with an interesting dynamic axis.

Thankfully, Arnold is not another band dishing out the 'fifteen minutes' formula, but rather, have a focus on making wonderful, unforgettable music. Arnold's "Hillside" proves to the international music scene that, though rare, excellence and integrity in artistry does sell.