Frank Hamilton - You, Your Cat and Me EP (°55 Records)
Alison Kerry | Tuesday, 06 May 2008
The EP's first single, ‘Waking Up @ 3’, fuses the infectious energy of Jack Peñate with adorable innocence brought about by backing-vocalist and keyboard player Helen Ruocco. Helen's modest sound (and appearance if you've had the opportunity to catch this band live) should by no means be understated: this girl has real talent and compliments Hamilton's sound perfectly. The plucky acoustic guitar and added harmonica guarantee you’ll be whistling along by the end of the first verse.
Title track 'Waking Up @ 3' contains the line, “There’s no where else I would rather be then on your sofa watching crap TV, with no one else there because it’s just you, your cat and me.” Confusing, nor abstract. Just a simple and effective love song.
The last and slowest track on this EP is a live version of 'Waterloo Guildford' where Hamilton sings about trying to get home after a drunken night out in London. It displays his wonderful and quite extraordinary quirky voice to the extent you can almost visualise his heart on his sleeve. The beautiful melody and gentle strumming of Frank's guitar will, in just under four minutes, take you on a musical journey you're unlikely to forget.
The honesty in Hamilton's lyrics isn't brought about by complex verse; it's not rocket science. But it is something most bands fail to convey with any real conviction. Frank recaptures the innocence, warmth and depth in this EP that's missing from much of the over-produced material currently circulating the music industry. His youth and optimism prevail throughout this six-track EP, and long may it continue.
'You, Your Cat and Me' is out on 19th May. The single 'Waking Up @ 3' is out now.
Rating: 4.5/5