The Freelance Hellraiser - Waiting for Clearance
Whether it's the sleek production, the uplifting lyrics or simply the craftsmanship of the tunes themselves, there is something for everyone here
| 15 Jun 2006
Back in October 2001, Roy Kerr, aka The Freelance Hellraiser, merged together Hard to Explain by the Strokes and Christina Aguilera's Genie in a Bottle and branded it A Stroke of Genius. Available as just five hundred 7" singles (but countless downloads), it helped start a music revolution. Along with fellow mashup pioneers 2 Many DJs, Richard X and Trash's Erol Alkan, Roy brought songs back to the heart of dance music. In the last four years, he's produced a string of remixes and played unforgettable DJ sets at the Big Beat Boutique, Death Disco, Def Jam's MTV Awards party as well as Glastonbury festival. In 2004 he became Sir Paul McCartney's official tour DJ and became the first person ever given the chance to remix Macca's back catalogue. A very busy boy indeed.
The debut album from The Freelance Hellraiser, 'Waiting for Clearance' is a sum of all these experiences: an album oozing with dance, rock, pop and soul, and intoxicated by all the diverse, astounding ways in which they interact. And where would Roy be without a little help from his friends? On the album, vocals are mainly provided by Snow Patrol's Gary Lightbody. These two go way, way back all the way to their university days. Former Snow Patrol guitarist Iain Archer also appears as well as Roy's wife, Lalula. Helping out on production duties meanwhile are U2 producer Jacknife Lee, another old friend; synth elder statesman Jan Hammer, and Huga Nicolson, the man who co-produced 'Screamadelica'. With his debut album finally completed, it's time to shake off the label of Mr. Mashup.
The album, admittedly, has been a long time coming. In between Macca responsibilities, Roy has been working on 'Waiting for Clearance' in his attic studio in north London.
"At the back of my mind Screamadelica was my template," Admits Roy. "It's got dubby stuff, the house stuff, the rock 'n' roll stuff... I always wanted an album to have a coherent flow. I wanted it to have the feel of a band."
"The Lyrics are all about taking that leap," Roys explains. "There were a lot of people saying it isn't going to work out – take the safe option. And it's all about breaking free from that and doing what you want rather than what you feel you should be doing."
Taking cues from the likes of Primal Scream as well as the Madchester scene, Roy gets straight down to business. On the album's title and opening track, we hear the lyrics: "Cause I've been hoping for a reawakening, an open door, the kinda signal that you can't ignore," which expresses perfectly this feeling of breaking free and taking a leap. Send Me is a cheerful, bouncy tune with flourishes popping out left, right and centre, ending in a swirling climax; while You Can Cry All You Want chugs along nicely with lyrics such as: "You can dream all you want 'cause your dream might get you somewhere." Good vibes ahoy.
The album changes pace with the serious funkfest of Can't Hide, an infectious highlight with an almost Tubular Bells feel to it and a wicked guitar solo. The Hey Jude-esque We Don't Belong certainly shows where the Macca influences have taken root, though at times its very reminiscent of early Supergrass. Waves has a definite Screamadelica feel to it, as does much of the second half of the album. Weightlessness is a cracker of a tune. It has everything you could possibly ask for in a euphoric, uplifting dance/rock song. It's yet another highlight; simply synth-tastic and unforgettable.
As clichéd as it may sound, it is guaranteed that everyone will find something they can warm to on this album. Whether it's the sleek production, the uplifting lyrics or simply the craftsmanship of the tunes themselves, there is something for everyone here. Perhaps even a summer smash is ahead for Mr. Mashup... oops, I mean The Freelance Hellraiser.
The debut album from The Freelance Hellraiser, 'Waiting for Clearance' is a sum of all these experiences: an album oozing with dance, rock, pop and soul, and intoxicated by all the diverse, astounding ways in which they interact. And where would Roy be without a little help from his friends? On the album, vocals are mainly provided by Snow Patrol's Gary Lightbody. These two go way, way back all the way to their university days. Former Snow Patrol guitarist Iain Archer also appears as well as Roy's wife, Lalula. Helping out on production duties meanwhile are U2 producer Jacknife Lee, another old friend; synth elder statesman Jan Hammer, and Huga Nicolson, the man who co-produced 'Screamadelica'. With his debut album finally completed, it's time to shake off the label of Mr. Mashup.
The album, admittedly, has been a long time coming. In between Macca responsibilities, Roy has been working on 'Waiting for Clearance' in his attic studio in north London.
"At the back of my mind Screamadelica was my template," Admits Roy. "It's got dubby stuff, the house stuff, the rock 'n' roll stuff... I always wanted an album to have a coherent flow. I wanted it to have the feel of a band."
"The Lyrics are all about taking that leap," Roys explains. "There were a lot of people saying it isn't going to work out – take the safe option. And it's all about breaking free from that and doing what you want rather than what you feel you should be doing."
Taking cues from the likes of Primal Scream as well as the Madchester scene, Roy gets straight down to business. On the album's title and opening track, we hear the lyrics: "Cause I've been hoping for a reawakening, an open door, the kinda signal that you can't ignore," which expresses perfectly this feeling of breaking free and taking a leap. Send Me is a cheerful, bouncy tune with flourishes popping out left, right and centre, ending in a swirling climax; while You Can Cry All You Want chugs along nicely with lyrics such as: "You can dream all you want 'cause your dream might get you somewhere." Good vibes ahoy.
The album changes pace with the serious funkfest of Can't Hide, an infectious highlight with an almost Tubular Bells feel to it and a wicked guitar solo. The Hey Jude-esque We Don't Belong certainly shows where the Macca influences have taken root, though at times its very reminiscent of early Supergrass. Waves has a definite Screamadelica feel to it, as does much of the second half of the album. Weightlessness is a cracker of a tune. It has everything you could possibly ask for in a euphoric, uplifting dance/rock song. It's yet another highlight; simply synth-tastic and unforgettable.
As clichéd as it may sound, it is guaranteed that everyone will find something they can warm to on this album. Whether it's the sleek production, the uplifting lyrics or simply the craftsmanship of the tunes themselves, there is something for everyone here. Perhaps even a summer smash is ahead for Mr. Mashup... oops, I mean The Freelance Hellraiser.
Released July 10 on Ugly Truth.
http://www.thefreelancehellraiser.co.uk