You'd think that Martin Newell would have plucked all the melodies out of the air by now? The incredibly prolific artist is back. Using his The Cleaners from Venus guise, he's offered up K7 recently. The 2023 album is a crisp delight.
"The Beautiful Stoned" is an opener with a classic vibe, while "Finding Anytown" uses piano to charm. The simple pleasures of an imagined England are here, of course, a quality which renders these 2023 numbers with the chiming spark that lights Newell's muse still. "Postcard to Heaven" is a beautiful little number, part ballad, part jazz-flecked ramble. The smartly-titled "March Sees January Out" pulls at the heartstrings, even as the peppy and clever "Supergirl Moved to Suburbia" elicts many smiles.
K7 is, like some recent Newell offerings, a sort of crash-course in his talents. He's there in Wivenhoe, crafting his music, orbiting the real world in his own way. Society moves faster and faster, and yet there's a constant, timeless pleasure to be had with music like this. Martin Newell, like Ray Davies and Andy Partridge, represents a uniquely British kind of song-craft, pop that's of a world being chipped away. And yet, for now at least, Martin Newell endures, still capable of absolute magic, serving up a platter that brings only joy. Have a listen, won't you?
K7 by The Cleaners from Venus is out now.
More details on Martin Newell and The Cleaners from Venus via the official website.
[Photo: Martin Newell website]