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Patrick Watson has been sitting on the sidelines for far too long. Album ‘Close To Paradise’ deserves to sit alongside the long line of great records that have been released in recent years. So, to become the guide dog to the blind crowd that have yet to discover him, he’s putting not one, but two songs from the album onto this single release. And it’ll probably do the trick. ‘Luscious Life’ is a paced yet calming affair; he does his party trick by sounding like Jeff Buckley with a few more musicians boosting his sound than usual. His voice soars beautifully, every word sinking into your sleepy head like a charm. Only halfway through, he’s preaching about his woman tasting so sweet and you can imagine him tapping his toes like a hyperactive child. But if that wasn’t enough to get your off your feet rushing to the nearest independent record shop, he’s invited b-side ‘The Storm’ to the party too. Sounding like a smooth talker projecting his true natural talent, creepy melodies and spell-binding tones keep the magic going. The full band once again project their importance but you also long to hear Watson on his own doing these songs, magnificence in solo-form, leaving you gormless. He leaves us on the words, “The storm is getting closer every day”, hopefully, Patrick Watson is getting closer to being recognized as the true genius of modern melody that he is.
Released 06/08/07 on V2 Records
