Christian Silva - 'Bring His Head' (Something In Construction) Released 07/11/05

Like a bird taking to the wing, this project sees 8 tracks coming in at just over 20 minutes long, so eager is she to take flight, and the studio left a window open. But, what a 20 minutes they are. Is it a mini-LP? A maxi-EP? The Manx-TT? A cup-of-PG? Revolving around the creative-spurts of front man Guy Hardy and his extensive songbook, Christian Silva take giant-strides and have good fun with these 8 tracks that'll 'ave yer clocking up yer own personal references.

With 'First Last .php' opening the proceedings, strata of piano and vocal "ooooo's" build and segue into the jaunty 'Why Should I?', with those fast piano-keys - like Tom and Jerry, with Jerry running along the inside of the piano, Tom trying to strike the right key to 'clonk' him on the head. It's a track that moves apace, striking the right chords and bursts with flavour, Guy singing - "Quick get up get out before you die/ before we all capsize// If you're feeling deprived/hold on...". The nuances continue, this time with shades of The Beach Boys for vocal harmonies, accompanied by what sounds like a de-tuned piano, it could also be a hammy Queen track - but is in fact 'Movie Night' - "Sleep is a team of trained ninjas/creeping up on the sides of your eyes."

Later, on 'The Chopping Board', by Jove - does Guy sound like Billie McKenzie hamming it up and adding some Franz Ferdinand to the blender - references which continue on 'The Boardroom' - glammed up tracks with ham-sandwiches for lunch, and like a quickie - over all too soon. Tracks with energy, wit and gumption. 'Rocket Science (under watchmaker's hands)' features the piano-motifs and soft-vocals - a track which oozes class and appeal - "And settle for her to fulfil her dream/ She knew I would break under love for skin...". the old segue sees the link blurred into 'Peter Pan' - starting off all gentle and soothing, - "Will you come with me tonight? Take a breath and we'll take flight" with acoustic-guitar plucking which then turns theatrical - like a fairground with lights blazing, senses heightened, Ferris-wheel motion... 'Houseguests' brings this thing a close, a track that sounds like the late Jeff Buckley, Guy bellowing a well-penned ballad - "You're caught in the fire now/ You're alone and you're falling down/ But your carbon fibres (wow)/ put in the pitchfork tonight...".

With elements of so many artists, Christian Silva leave this listener hankering for more, and disbelieving the brevity of this EP - a release that'd appeal to Lambchop/Polyphonic Spree/The Sparks/ Radiohead/FF listeners. Quite.