Mr. Wright

by Terrance MilesLike his EL Records counterparts Momus and Louis Philippe, Mr. Wright has discovered that carefully executed and lovingly crafted orchestral (lets not forget romantic) pop music never really lost its audience. Also, like Momus and Philippe, Wright (aka Kevin Wright), landed himself a new job in the stylish Euro-Jet-Set-neo-pop world of Le Grand Magistery Records. Beginning where Kevin Wrights band Always (EL Records) left off, the first Wright album, titled …Is Always the Fancy Man, finds us in familiar territory, blending the best of Nick Drake, Scott Walker, and Momus (who actually guests on a few tracks), a pattern that will continue through his next two albums, Star Time and Hello Is Anyone Out There. Futuristic and Modern sounds bend lush orchestral arrangements into reflective observations on English culture, painting a sincere but synthetic version of the village green. On Star Time, Wright is joined by the Gemso Orchestra, (who recently appeared on Songs for the Jetset), and the starlit lounge sounds fill the air. On Hello Is Anyone Out There, Wright plays that left-handed guitar with just enough force to prod his songs gently into the next chorus, never seriously over or understating their case. Since the demise of El records, and Always, Mr. Wright has gone to great lengths to keep the tradition of high quality, well-crafted, irresistibly lush, European Pop alive.