Matt Edible and The Obtuse Angels “The Optometrist”

Matt Edible is a new name to us (and what a name) but is a renowned member of the Hull music scene, having previously fronted cult avant-pop heroes Edible 5ft Smiths and leading BBC 6 music’s Tom Robinson favourites The Holy Orders. On this record Matt is working alongside a new band with the equally brilliant name, The Obtuse Angels.

We love albums that open with a bang, and “The Optometrist” is an absolutely cracking power pop tune. We’re not entirely sure what it has to do with eyes, but this song certainly makes us feel great. It’s followed by “Cancelled (A Song For All Seasons)”, a track which is a neat non love song with some brilliantly witty lyrics.

Things then hot up again with “Mirror Shoes”, an absolutely brilliant glam stomper. It’s a bit tacky, but wonderfully appealing (just like a glam track should be). That’s followed by the equally irresistible “Idiot” which to us sounds like a follow up song to the Sultans of Ping’s brilliant “Where’s My Jumper”. If we were still teenagers this would have us jumping up and down on our beds (much to the annoyance of our parents!).

This really is an album, full of variety and surprises. Who would have thought that a song called “Cat Pi**” would start like an emotional ballad before exploding into an epic rock opera song akin to something by Muse! After that we revert to the more straight forward indie pop of “Dog Dirt”. Something that is consistent across all the songs are the clever, witty and funny lyrics. “Better Than Oasis” indeed sounds like an Oasis ballad but also includes the neat lyrics ‘we’re Be Here Now when we’re apart but together we’re albums one and two’….classic!

Even on first listen this album feels like a conversation with an old and loved friend. There’s a charm to it which makes you feel that Matt Edible and The Obtuse Angels will be something of a cult band loved by their fans. The album does have us reminiscing about some of the lesser known Brit Pop bands like the previously mentioned Sultans, Cud and Kinky Machine. Bands which were never quite ‘cool’ enough but were intent on having fun with their songs and their music. This album really shows how great it can be when a band is capable of blending witty lyrics and musical talent.