Agnes - 'Release Me'
Oh hello, what's this? A former TV talent show winner banging out a disco torch song, supported by massed ABBA harmonies and a bass so thick you could use it as a doorstop? A modern day update of 'I Will Survive', which makes up in enormity what it lacks in defiance? A club-destroying barnstormer, worthy of a doffed cap from Dave Pearce himself (even if the hat-removal exercise would require some Super-Glue thinners and a pair of barber's scissors)? The future of all heavy metal as we know it?
Well, yes, yes, yes and no. In that order.
(. It contains some strobe lighting effects.)
I would say that 73% of why this is a great song rests with those amazing swooping harmonies. That's not to take anything away from Agnes's vocal talents, it's just her honeyed-rasp, set to a synth-disco backing, is not THAT startlingly new a sound. Whereas those harmonies, particularly around the second and third verses, are astonishing. You could reduce things down to a beat, Agnes and the choir, and nothing would sound amiss.
The only trouble is, once you fixate on the glorious choir, some of the other bits start to sound a bit plasticky and half-arsed. I'd love to hear a version of this where the 'Papa Don't Preach' strings at the beginning didn't sound like a synth preset, where there was evidence of muscle and sinew in among the painstakingly recreated disco fizz.
It's not some rocksnob quest for 'analogue warmth' or whatever, it's just those voices demand utter perfection from everything around them, and that's a tough standard to reach.
Luckily for Agnes, her contribution is not one of the flies in the ointment. And who knows, if this had a more memorable chorus, and even MORE harmonies, why that extra star could be hers for the taking.
I know, I know...she's gonna be SO bothered, right?
Download: Out now
CD Released: June 8th
Ö÷²¥´óÐã Music page
(Fraser McAlpine)
"Reminds me of Anastacia."
"I think the song is super-catchy but it sounds like she actually wrote it."
"She's got the horseface of Leona Lewis."
Comment number 1.
At 3rd Jun 2009, NOSH33N_x wrote:this song i so weird! and 4 stars is a bit too much! lol xx
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Comment number 2.
At 7th Jun 2009, BLING-BWOY wrote:She is a pretty girl with a powerful voice. She does resemble Leona Lewis.
They are both beautiful with masses of hair.
Maybe their noses aren't perfect but few people are happy with their nose. Calling them "horseface" is a tad extreme.
This is a worthy top ten hit.
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