Stagecoach vs. Johnny Foreigner: Split 7”
Words: Gareth O’Malley
…and now for something completely different. Released to coincide with their upcoming UK tour, here’s a split single from Johnny Foreigner (who we are big fans of, if you don’t know that already) and Stagecoach (who, on the evidence of the material they’ve contributed to this single, we will be big fans of very soon indeed).
Four songs are presented here, two by each band. Our favourite Birmingham indie-pop trio (sorry Calories) roll out yet another new song, ‘Tru Punx’, two minutes of them doing what they do best, propelled by a gloriously uplifting guitar figure that defines the track.
On the flip, they tackle Stagecoach’s ‘Good Luck With Your 45’ (though it is now - in keeping with JoFo tradition - ‘Yr 45’), and the results are quite unexpected. The song’s anchored by three-part vocals, the sole accompaniment to these being some tremolo guitar (introduced midway through) and gentle percussion. It will no doubt throw some of the band’s fans for a loop, but therein lies its real strength. It’s opened up a few doors for the group, that’s for sure.
Meanwhile, Stagecoach, a quintet from London with considerable melody-writing skills, contribute a song that takes more twists and turns than a switchback. ‘Not Even Giles (Would Say We’ll Be OK)’ comes on like the bastard child of Tubelord and Pulled Apart By Horses, bringing several (yes, several) massive choruses along for the ride. They’re a group we keep an eye on next year, yes indeed.
The JoFo song they choose to tackle is the band’s calling card, ‘Salt, Peppa And Spinderella’. It’s reworked into a gentle acoustic song, with piano and xylophone supporting strummed guitar. Later, they ‘turn on the fake drums’, and the song takes off - quietly. It’s an impressive take on a well-loved song, and it’s arguably the highlight of the set. Over eleven minutes we get glimpses of one band striking out into new territory, and another putting their name on the map. This is quite the package.
Johnny Foreigner: 8.4
Stagecoach: 8.5
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