Named after Douglas Adams’ satirical sci-fi Restaurant novel, the likeable Manchester spoken word poet’s debut LP is an entertaining, playful, richly observational mix of Streetsy stream-of-consciousness stories inspired by his home city through the classic sounds of 90s dance music and indie. Familiar of course with many a motorway service station from touring, the opening and title track sums up the album with revolving tour of characters in that location who will then appear throughout the record, and sets a catchy guitar dance groove and syncopated beat with a echo of disco and Stones Roses and syncopated with a series of vivid portraits. Overall the music, filled with samples as well as created by collaborator and producer Max Rad, is more of an echoey, atmospheric rise and fall backbeat to various late-night and other scenes, an undercurrent accompaniment to an album which of course is really all about the lyrics. There’s an obvious comparison and echo of Mike Skinner of the Streets, with conversational wordplay, but Szmierek’s style has a little more upbeat skip and philosophical brightness to it.
On the post-clubby Rafters, he sets the scene vividly: “The bass shakes loose a single piece of confetti from the rafters / The ghost of the party the night before / And you’re the only one who notices/ As it catches the light.” The Great Pyramid of Stockport is a time-travelling upbeat perspective of changing north-west. “And I've seen a pyramid / They built one in Stockport / A reincarnated insurance headquarters, now an Indian restaurant / And the possibilities are endless.” Yoga Teacher is another standout, a disco-funk semi-ironic set of observations and private, wondering thoughts during a class. Again inspired by Adam’s work, the skip-beat The Hitchiker’s Guide To Fallacy muses on the profound in the everyday: “Is hope included in this meal deal? Nah, I didn’t think so.” Restless Leg is a series of stream-of-consciousness phrases, while closer Angie’s Wedding has that Underworld-style, comedown Bank Holiday Sunday setting of uncertain feelings set to a classic 90s dancefloor and piano beat. “It’s the wedding of the century. I don’t know how to feel. I hope she made it.” Melancholy, mirth and everything in between are here to enjoy and listen again to this fast-thinking, thoughtful artist with a strong, refreshing debut. Out on Mushroom Music/Virgin.
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