ALBUM REVIEW: Get Cape Wear Cape Fly – "The Chronicles of a Bohemian Teenager"

First published: 2006-09-18

It does seem a bit strange, given Get Cape Wear Cape Fly’s much-vaunted eclecticism, that 20 year old Essex lad Sam Duckworth chooses to open up his debut album with what is essentially a straight-ahead folksy pop song.  But perhaps that’s the point?  Because if we learn anything from this album, it’s that Mr Fly is far from a one-trick pony.

Many artists would be happy to continue intricately fingerpicking through a whole record in the same traditional heart-string-tugger mould as the aforementioned opener, ‘Once More With Feeling’, but not this guy.  With an everything-but-the-kitchen-sink approach to instrumentation, Duckworth has a genuinely interesting take on the bog-standard singer songwriter template.  Not an innovative one, mind - indie snobs may well want to namedrop Simple Kid or Chris T-T here – but ‘Chronicles…’ has some electronica-tinged folk moments that are accessible in a way those artists can only dream of.  And it’s amazing how the addition of some subtle keyboards and a drum and bass influenced breakbeat can turn the most basic of songs into something great. 

While this melodic simplicity is one of Get Cape’s strong points, it also leads to some of the most cringingly self-conscious lyrics this side of a sixth form battle of the bands: “I know it’s just a simple song, but I just wanna make you sing along”.  Despite mumbling quasi-emo rubbish along these lines though, he’s not one to cry into his Converse (Dashboard Confessional, anyone?).  Sure, there’s some authentically sensitive break-up tales, but Get Cape’s eponymously titled track is an anti-consumerism diatribe to bring a smile to Billy Bragg’s face.

And bringing a smile to your face is something that much of this record will do, from the Calexico-style mariachi trumpets of ‘Call Me Ishmael’, to the radio-friendly anthem that is ‘The Chronicles of a Bohemian Teenager (Part One)’.  These are the sort of songs that could soundtrack your life.  He’s sensitive, he’s interesting, he’s a genius with melody, but Get Cape Wear Cape Fly still has more bollocks than a whole army of whichever other singer-songwriter you care to name.