Alfie - If You Happy With You Need Do Nothing (2001)

You just know you're onto something good when a band can wield a delicate brass instrument with a knowing precision. Alfie's music contains the most fragile of arrangements that from time to time allows a lone French horn or trumpet to weave its magic through an already intoxicating mix. Lee Gorton, Alfie's lead singer is consistently compared to a budding Ian Brown although I'd put him closer to the breathy Tim Burgess of the Charlatans. Gorton was offered, but turned down, the chance to play Brown in '24 Hour Party People', the film about the Manchester nightclub the Hacienda. The title of this album is a bit of mouthful. It's taken from a letter Gorton received from his dentist of all things. It is on such commonplace occurrences that legends are moulded. 'If You Happy With You Need Do Nothing' is made up of tracks taken from Alfie's first three singles; The Alfie EP, Bookends and The Montevideo. '2 Up 2 Down' and the exquisite 'Umlaut' are the only brand new tracks.

It would be hard to concoct a more appropriate opener than 'Bookends'. The wailing cello supplied by Matt McGeever may be the highlight but the twinkling guitars and hushed vocals from Gorton are never less than infectious. 'Bookends' sounds completely disjointed at first but the disparate sounds are so at ease with each other that they seem to arrive from the same source. This is magical stuff with the power to beam golden horned unicorns into your back garden. '2 Up 2 Down' has a similar brief except that this time McGeever takes on the vocal duties. And what a swaying off-kilter ditty it turns out to be. The French horn reigns supreme as McGeever trips the light fandango. The melody is freshly inventive with tiny nods to 'Bring It On' Gomez. The groove is loose limbed and you can pick up on the huge joie de vivre from its slightly erratic ramble. 'James's Dream', the album's only instrumental, could have quite easily slipped out from under Badly Drawn Boy's collection of wistful compositions. It's lazy melody, stray cello strings and delightful acoustic meanderings juxtapose in a superbly shambolic way to have you grinning from ear to ear. 'Manor House Farm' is so dainty you'll pray a sudden gust of wind doesn't steal it from your possession. The harmonies are sublime and the musical backdrop is luxurious.

At times Alfie sound vaguely familiar. This familiarity is most pointed on the acoustic shuffle of 'You Make No Bones'. The vocals are eerily close to a laid-back Tim Burgess and the band could pass as formidable Charlatans copyists. Nothing wrong with this as the songs breezy guise has a loveable understated charm. Alfie are at their most impressive, however, when they beat their own drum. 'Umlaut' is distinctively their own creation but for once they appear in a bolder incarnation. The tunes early subtleties are blown to pieces by a burning musical rhapsody with ingredients made up of 2 parts strings, one part brass and several straying guitar interludes. Only on the lo-fi intricacies of 'Talking Song' do Alfie stray towards all out guitar carnage again. At times Gorton adopts a post hangover voice that is both dry and twee. Like on the waddling 'Sure and Simple Time' where his understated words benefit from a circular acoustic riff supplied by Ian Smith and some beautiful strings that are positively dripping in melancholy. 'Check The Weight' is similarly toned. As graceful and stealth like as a bouncing pebble on a calm lake, it's so damn likeable you could be forgiven for thinking that Belle & Sebastian have had a hand in it's production.

Long before you are ready to except that the album is coming to a close, 'Montevideo' arrives unhurriedly to call time. Effusing a certain continental swing, it conjures the feeling you get while on holidays. Relax, there's nothing to worry about, we have all the time in the world. It hypnotic and proves to be a most eloquent way to put a full stop in the first glorious chapter in Alfie's storybook career. Alfie go about their business with efficient charm, their music is akin to a country ramble; invigorating in the gentlest of ways. If You Happy With You Need Do Nothing is a stellar debut full of cute tunes that colour your laidback lifestyle. Neil Hannon is apparently a celebrity admirer; he has been quoted as saying that he would like to see more bands becoming more like Alfie.

Rating: 8/10


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