Apostle of Hustle – ‘Cheap Like Sebastian’ (Arts & Crafts) Released 16/04/07

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Side projects normally send Gigwise fleeing in terror. Is there anything worse than various successful artists feeling they can get away with any old crap simply because it won’t affect their main band? Thankfully, Apostle of Hustle are a different beast. With one album under their belts, this project of Broken Social Scene guitarist Andrew Whiteman is already established and if there’s any justice this track will see them continue to ascend upwards. It’s a gentle, beautiful lament that also sounds defiant and triumphant. With lilting vocals, chiming guitar and a nagging bass line this is an oddly hypnotic track, a song that manages to exhibit weariness yet also remain gloriously tuneful at heart.

Fans of Broken Social Scene will certainly recognise certain elements here but there’s more than that, with a soulful edge behind it, as well as a tint of world music. There may not be any huge stadium sized choruses or powerful riffs here but Cheap Like Sebastien doesn’t need them. It’s tuneful, clever lyrically and simply a superb example of song writing.