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FPOP22 Honey, I'm an Artist - Airport Girl Tracklisting 1. This could be the start of something small Reviews Sometimes you have to get the bigger picture to really understand what it is you’re looking at. Just as, sometimes, you have to hear more than just a few singles from a band to really understand what they’re capable of.
Airport Girl are a fine example of this. They’ve released a clutch of singles, including the punky ‘Power Yr Trip’ on WIAIWYA and, most recently, the gorgeous but hideously overlong popsong ‘The Foolishness That We Create Through Love Is The Closest We Come To Greatness.’ Each single had a secret shine of greatness hidden within, but never really had the chance to come out. Even ‘The Foolishness’ was over before it really got anywhere, hinting at a wonderful album in the pipeline and leaving us wondering what was coming.
So, it’s only now, with this album, that we see what the band were getting at all along. Admittedly, Airport Girl would like us to think that their spiritual ancestors are the likes of Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers (‘Home On The Range’, on this album, is incredibly Richman-esque), but the truth is that they are much, much closer both musically and lyrically to The Delgados or The Wedding Present.
The album certainly starts like a Delgados record. ‘This Could Be The Start Of Something Small’ is beautifully pensive, accompanied by a delicate sounding violin, and hinting at some truly delightful moments to come. Then, suddenly, it bursts into the stomping punky fire of ‘Power Yr Trip’. And this is an art that Airport Girl seem to have mastered: mixing the quiet, pensive, moving moments of a record with forcefully sublime dancefloor jumpalongs.
There are certainly a few standout tracks here. ‘Between Delta and Delaware’ is gorgeous, rising and falling, bouncing along like a Tompaulin record more than anything else with its summery, light-footed melodies. ‘The Foolishness’ remains as explosive and wonderful as ever before, only this time is completely in context, and ‘Surf #7 Wave’ is explosive, violently loud, and blissfully energetic. But the most glorious moment is a peaceful one. ‘Frostbite’ is the track that proves whilst Airport Girl may be promising amateurs for the time-being, they won’t be seen as amateurs for much longer. And they certainly won’t be described as ‘shambolic’ again. With almost a hymnal, folky nature, the swoonsome little epic is a pleading indie masterpiece, mixing rising strings, fantastic guitar work, and poignant vocals. Almost anthemic in quality, the song builds and builds, leaving the listener in a vacuum when it finally ends. Brilliant stuff, and sure proof that Airport Girl are on to something… Paul Haswell, Strange Fruit - Fruitbowl #26.
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