Vibrations Magazine

http://www.vibrations.org.uk

Captain Wilberforce - Mindfilming

This is pop music. Pure unashamed, unadulterated pop – they’re happy to admit it on the website. Captain Wilberforce make songs to make you feel good. It’s all there in the jaunty melodies and all the ‘oohs’ and ‘ahhs’ going on in the background. They’re following in a fine songwriting tradition, inventive pop symphonies and songs that tell a story, revelling in the fine detail and minutiae of life. XTC, The Boo! Radleys, Mull Historical Society – the sounds may differ but they’ve all been here before to some degree.
I must admit on the first listen it didn’t really get going until track 6 but after that every song had me hooked. In true football cliché, a game of two halves. Listening a second time the first half proved much more rewarding though I still found the second half more immediate in showing off its pop charms.
To anyone brought up on angst and loud guitars it may appear too winsome and quirky at times, particularly if you look at the song titles first, ‘I Haven’t Got Any Famous Friends’ and ‘The Incredible Commuting Mole (Must Die) ‘ being particular standouts. But, lighten up. This is pop music, it’s there for your listening enjoyment so go ahead and do just that. Enjoy.

John Jervis