Finley Quaye
Vanguard
Epic

Finley Quaye is most noted here in the states for being Tricky's cousin. But, many people who have never actually listened to his debut album, 1997's Maverick A Strike. If Vanguard is your first introduction to Quaye's music, you will immediately recognize his cousin's influence on the first track, "Broadcast." Tricky's unique brand of rhyming backed by grand beats and an overwhelming mix of various instruments is copied well by Quaye. The only thing that's missing is Tricky's trademark growl.

If you're hoping for more Tricky-esque vibes, you will be disappointed. Quaye mixes a variety of styles and sounds on Vanguard. The next track on the album, "Spiritualized", is akin to The The's early work, with Quaye's repressed vocals mixed well above the whimsical tune that is being played behind him. It doesn't seem a natural progression from the first track, but by the time the third track, "The Emperor", begins, you realize that the album is more of a showcase of styles than it is a complete package of 12 songs.

Even within the mish mash of styles, one can find some consistency. Bookended by the over sentimental "The Emperor" and the Jimmy Cliff sounding "I'm Feeling Blue", we find Quaye knee deep in Bob Marley with "Burning" and "Everybody Knows." Just when you think you've been fooled into listening to a white bread reggae / soft-core ska album, Finley comes back with a fine piece of mellow guitar pop in the form of "When I Burn Off Into The Distance."

"Chad Valley" starts off with guitar that would suit an Irish jig before subtly transforming into a sweet piece of trip-hop. Quaye's loose rhyming on "Chad Valley" only serves as a reference point so that the beats don't completely jar your sense of where the song is going.

The best thing to sound like the Stone Roses since 1996, "British Air Rage" throws yet another style into the mix. The repeating guitar line is reminiscent of the Roses' "Something Burning" and Quaye's rhyming stands to perpetuate the similarities between the two songs. We see more influence from the Manchester scene, although not as directly apparent, on the next track, "White Paper". The use of the Rhodes organ and wah-wah guitars sound more like music for an early 70's blaxploitation soundtrack than anything else.

"White Paper" is loud, in your face and packs just the right amount of funk. From that we drop off to the entirely rhythm based, "Hey Now" which is supposed to be a deep and emotional track, but comes of as a play in empty sentimentality.

Vanguard is a good album and will likely prove to be one of the better albums released in 2001, if this year shapes up to be anything like last year. The problem is, that Vanguard could be a great album. If Quaye stuck to one genre and created his own voice in that genre, it would serve the listener better. Instead, Quaye has delivered a roller coaster of styles and quality that in the end seems like an exercise in amusing Quaye himself. The robbing of influences that comprise the tracks on this album take away any meaning from the music he's creating. You can't get into a groove and stay there because you'll be broadsided by a change in style or a change in mood or both.

-Tyler Jacobson

Track Listing:

1. Broadcast
2. Spiritualized
3. The Emperor
4. Burning
5. Everybody Knows
6. Feeling Blue
7. When I Burn Off Into The Distance
8. Chad Valley
9. Calendar
10. British Air Rage
11. White Paper
12. Hey Now