Neon Heights

LP Review, October 2007, iDJ Magazine



Neon Heights

You Make Love To Robots And You Wonder What People Are For

Bocajito Records (UK), BOCACD005

Nottingham's Neon Heights have always been one of those acts capable of

flashes of brilliance. Consider their 1999 downtempo anthem '16 Again' or

their inspired, Rob Da Bank-endorsed cover of The Jam's 'That's

Entertainment'. Yet for all the highs, they've yet to fully realise their

potential. 2005's 'A Hot Trip To Heaven' album was certainly very good, but

perhaps not quite the breakthrough set many expected. So what of 'You Make

Love To Robots', their third long-player could this be their 'next level'

moment? Perhaps. It's certainly their strongest and most cohesive set yet, a

lazy stroll through soulful pastures that benefits enormously from their

graduation to a fully-fledged live band. 'You Make Love To Robots' has an

infectious warmth: all deep bass, cosy Rhodes (provided by the brilliant

Tom Bailey) and sympathetic guitars. What really sets the album apart from

its predecessors, though, is the consistency of the songs on offer. From the

disco-funk fun of 'Love Hound' to the jaunty 'Dreaming' via three brilliant

J Todd collaborations, there's little in the way of filler. By the time the

breathtakingly Balearic closer 'A Beautiful Thing' comes around, you're left

in no doubt that Neon Heights are the finished article. Their moment may

have finally arrived.

4/5

Matt Anniss LP Review Mixmag, Oct 07 NEON HEIGHTS

YOU MAKE LOVE TO ROBOTS AND WONDER WHAT PEOPLE ARE FOR



Is that James Taylor? In Mixmag? Is it really the king of 60s easy listening

guitar whose Fire And Rain is sampled on the first track of this album, an

artist even Lemon Jelly's Fred Deakin might shy away from? Yes indeed, but

what follows is a lot less surprising: a little bit of hip hop, a bit of

soul, a whole lot of groovy jazz. In fact there is a a definite George

Benson vibe to this offering, though thankfuly there's no sax. In this

context, the polemic 'Pray For New Orleans' sounds strangely out of place,

like meeting Che Guevara sipping Manhattans in a rooftop cocktail bar. If

you have a soft spot for Sade and black polo necks worn under a suit jacket,

you'll love this.



Three stars

BURN Walked OUt This Morning, A Beautiful Thing

LIKE THIS TRY Common 'Finding Forever'



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