Reviews-High Ball Me!

REVIEWS-BABY IT'S OVER . . .

Robots & Electronic Brains | POPnews | Issue #45 of The Big Takeover (print only) |

Baby It's Over (Nickel and Dime Records) (Single)
A 4 Track EP that grabbed me with it's rather lush production and New Order -influenced songwriting. The lead track 'Can't get enough of You' is the strongest here with surf guitar lines, crazy bongo drums and operatic backing vocals colliding in a rather ridiculous but beguiling way. Apparently, they've been away contemplating Jesus and writing their 4th LP 'High Ball Me!' after a sabbatical - is this the same shoegazing bunch from the end of the '80's / beginning of the '90's? I must do some more research and find out!
Vic - BBC Radio 1

pennyblackmusic.com
"Somebody give the Lord a handclap. After a lengthy sabattical spent contemplating Jesus, the their 4th and most perfectly-formed album. "High Ball Me!" is an as-near-as-dammit realisation of the perrenial Moose fixations of classic 60s / 70s pop, heart shredding country & western, stellar songwriting (of the Nillson / Hazelwood school), and borderline-melodic guitar mangling. The amalgam of these influences is one of the best and most diverse pop albums of the century so far, and the greatest record the House of Love never managed to make despite always threatening to. With the emphasis always and firmly on tune and harmony, the 11 tracks rush forth in a swell of sweeping strings, shimmering guitars, rousing organs, rattling bongos, Joe Meek-esque antique effects, and too many other beautiful ideas to take in at once. Did i mention the Pale Fountains?" (from pennyblack.com)

OtherMusic.com
"Moose, with their fourth album, keep a particular kind of British pop vibrant: in 11 sweet songs with nicely grand arrangements, it's a time capsule of 1989. Traces of Felt and the Divine Comedy in the vocals, Field Mice and Pale Fountains in rhythms that sweep along under you. Their songs ride in on caffeine jitters and feedback, kooky roller-rink organ, harpsichord, and echoing spaghetti-Western guitars. Their well-done, ingenuous pop won't challenge any paradigms, but does stand as an excellently-crafted stylistic exercise for 38 minutes." [review by RE from Other Music]

Amazon.co.uk
"Moose were always horribly misunderstood. Influenced by the heavy country of Johnny Cash and George Jones, as well as warped craftsmen like Lee Hazelwood and Harry Nilsson, they arrived way before their proper time. And, for their temerity, they were lumped in with Slowdive and Chapterhouse under the far-from-adequately descriptive banner of "shoegazers". That name was actually inspired by a Moose performance, and their habit--born of intense focus and embarrassment in front of an audience--of staring down at their instruments. That it stuck was nothing short of bizarre, given the courageous range of their repertoire and confidence of their wordplay. High Ball Me--Moose's fourth album, written and recorded some five years before release--has been on the shelf for some considerable time. Yet fortunately, the band has stayed true to their musical obsessions, and the album retains a real contemporariness. Imagine Grandaddy or Teenage Fanclub with a flamboyant streak, a wilder sense of humour, and no fear of failure. One hopes the next album is not so long in coming. --Dominic Wills, from amazon.co.uk"

Vibrashop.com
There's a Moose in the House of Love.
Old loves never die. One of the most wonderful British bands ever have made their fourth album, and it's like they never went away. Their sound appears to be timeless, just like their peers Harry Nilsson, Lee Hazlewood, the House of Love. Unfortunately, just like these artists, Moose seem to be doomed to be horribly underrated in their own lifetime. But sod that, we don't care if no one else understands, if noone wants to know or listen - we have seen and heard the light. And this is one great album.
    If this album never happened, Moose would be sadly missed and remembered for some of the most beautiful and powerful music to emerge in the last ten years. After a few years of silence since the stunning "Live a little, love a lot", Moose are back - and as glorious as ever. Back to show you that love rules. And that great melodies and harmonies are the way to spread it around.
    Like on their previous album, "High ball me!" continues their musical journey with an exciting blend of 60/70s pop, heart shredding country & western, stellar songwriting and borderline-melodic guitar mangling. The amalgam of these influences is one of the best and most diverse pop albums of the century so far. Those are big words we know, but Moose will live up to it.
    With the emphasis always and firmly on tune and harmony, the 11 tracks rush forth in a swell of sweeping strings, shimmering guitars, rousing organs, rattling bongos, Joe Meek-esque antique effects, and too many other beautiful ideas to take in at once. Like real masterpieces, this album is filled with lovely moments - like the Forties violin on "Lily la Tigresse", the Dick Dale-esque guitar on "Can't Get Enough of You", the sweeping strings on "The Only Man in Town". But throughout, you get quality songwriting; every one is a glorious, celebratory tune, Kev McKillop's guitar pealing away, scattering diamonds across Russell's slightly blighted lyrics.
    You'll love it. (from vibrashop.com)