Quick and to the point, ‘Stop Look Lizard!’ is quirky, witty, lyrically delightful and bloody fine. Essentially it’s acoustic pop lavished with ska/reggae tones, chilled sensibilities and posi-vibes. It’s just the sort of record that makes it very difficult not to smile your way through. A slice of summer on these prolonged autumnal evenings, if you will.
Don’t know Gecko? Well, here’s the skinny. Will Sanderson-Thwaite and Simon Cole make up the ‘core’ of the band, sauntering their way out of the acoustic singer/songwriter scene with a blend of poppy ska. Along the way the duo has picked up an array of guests to feature on recordings, culminating in this four-tracker, the most developed sound Gecko has released yet. Having been produced by Peter Miles, UK punk’s go-to-guy, would you expect anything less?
Opener, “What You Gonna Do?”, sets out a stall early on, taking the usual acoustic guitar stylings (it opens like the theme tune to Kevin Smith’s ‘Chasing Amy‘) and layering it with a carnival-esque underscore. It’s a bit like that whole Jack Johnson/Jason Mraz thing, only there’s more to it than that: a little more ‘real’, a little more homegrown. A beautiful female vocal accompanies, a tactic that was moderately utilised on last recording, ‘Songs In the Key of Lizard’, adding another dynamic, one that is wholly welcome.
The following track, “Wake Up”, has an air about it that’s reminiscent of London’s diamond-in-the-rough reggae up-and-comer, Natty. It’s a gentle stroll, built around a simple drum track with the verses almost spoken word, before a big old hook of a chorus kicks in.
The subsequent tracks, “Falling Down” and “I Got Time”, follow the above blueprint. The former is an up-tempo, feel-good song that’s a little more vigorous than that before, although the final 40 seconds is deliciously supplemented by organs. The latter returns to the acoustic origins, opening with just strings and vocals before beefing-out into a more coated number. Again those sublime female vocals make their presence felt.
‘Stop Look Lizard!’ may not be the best title for a record ever, but don’t let the name put you off. This is a very good offering that’s pushing the boundaries. It’s not just pop, it’s not just ska, it’s not just acoustic. There’s a whole lot going on and the more spins you give it, the more it flirts with those eardrums, giving off an easy-going presence that lulls you in. A ridiculously charming little number. More please.
Alex