Beady Eye: boogie-woogie
After a year of secret rehearsals, the world finally got to hear Liam Gallagher’s new band, Beady Eye, essentially Oasis without Noel, following the brothers’ ultimate bust-up.
The band, Gallagher, Gem Archer, Andy Bell and Chris Sharrock, made their first track, Behind The Light, available as a free download to fans on 10am Wednesday morning from their website www.beadyeyemusic.com.
It’s got a piano-led Status Quo boogie- woogie groove, with perhaps a dash of Chas N’ Dave and Shakin’ Stevens. The chorus is late-period Beatles when they tried to rediscover their rock n’roll roots.
Liam is at his most Lennon-esque and sounds in good voice. There’s gospel backing vocals providing a Primal Scream feel, a squealing guitar solo and a long fade-out.
The band have been working with U2 producer Steve Lillywhite and the track has less of the buzzsaw guitar of old. But it’s a fairly basic rock groove and won’t keep Noel awake in the songwriting stakes. You wouldn’t give your best song away free would you? Would you…
An album was recorded over the past summer in London and will be released next year.
Since Noel walked out of Oasis, apparently for good, Liam has been generally keeping his head down and being a model father, emerging only to promote his clothing line, Pretty Green.
Noel must consider Beady Eye rather like Sir Alex Ferguson views Manchester City, the “noisy neighbours”, who’ve got to prove they can match his record for writing classic hits.
Beady Eye are smart enough to go for a “soft launch”. After the free download, a limited 7″ vinyl of Bring The Light will be available for fans to purchase but only via their website, and with another new song, Sons Of The Stage on the B-side.
