Niall Galvin, aka Only Real, has been drip-feeding us tracks from his debut album for more than two years now. Establishing himself as a lackadaisical Jamie T, or grittier Mac DeMarco, Galvin started recording in his bedroom when he was only 18, fusing drawled raps telling of lazy London fun with blissful surf-pop.
With a bit of help from producers Dan Carey (Hot Chip, Childhood) in London and Ben Allen (Washed Out, Deerhunter) in Atlanta, 'Jerk At the End of the Line' has been filled out by woozy psychedelic guitars and 80s drum machines whilst still retaining the urban grit and playfulness of Galvin's bedroom demos.
Make no mistake though, sunshine aside this is a breakup album – and there's real moments of uncertainty and melancholy to be found buried beneath the fuzz, guitar-jangles and nonchalant swagger. 'Break It Off' is especially revealing, showing a different side to Galvin ("I thought it would be me to break it off / Well look at me now."). Recent single 'Yesterdays' has a pure-pop chorus that, despite shimmering guitars, pines with longing. Lyrically, the darkest moment on the album comes with 'Can't Get Happy' which sees Galvin moping after a breakup: "I lay defeated / Things aren't getting better / Do you think of me at all?"
In the end, though, the sun and Galvin's penchant for fun win out. Some of these tracks, namely 2013 singles 'Blood Carpet' and 'Backseat Kissers' and 2014's 'Cadillac Girl', have been knocking around for quite some time.
The best of the old guard, 'Cadillac Girl', is irrepressible. Appearing almost unchanged here from its original version, Galvin's slacker vocal glides idly around his tongue-twisting lyrics, a sly smile playing about his lips amid watery guitars and reverb-filled background coos.
Musically, the album follows this formula. 'Daisychained' takes matters into almost dream-pop territory and it's "stay a while" refrain could be as much about a fading love as the warmth of summer itself.
The chilled beat and elastic bass of 'Jerk' draws on Galvin's love of 90's hip hop influences; the groove of Outkast and California sunshine of Hieroglyphics, before sun-kissed, almost Hawaiian, guitars breeze in. Even in his darkest moments Only Real can't help but capture the glow of summer.
7/10
Words: Dannii Leivers
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