God Help The Girl
Thu 11 Jun 2009
God Help the Girl- God Help The Girl
8/10
There’s a certain elegance about this album that makes it a totally charming listen. God Help The Girl is the soundtrack to a film scheduled to be shot in 2010. The songs were written and composed by Belle and Sebastian front-man Stuart Murdoch; it features twelve new songs and two previously recorded by Belle and Sebastian (both appeared on Belle and Sebastian’s album The Life Pursuit released in 2006). To bring the songs to life Murdoch enlisted some very capable help. In a rather unique twist he held open auditions, urging members of the public to audition for vocal parts on the album. It worked like magic, he found some wonderful help, including Brittany Stallings who sings the Belle and Sebastian hit ‘Funny Little Frog’. Murdoch also had some professional help, from Asya, lead singer of American indie band Smoosh and Neil Hannon of Devine Comedy. But the real star of God Help the Girl is Catherine Ireton, a newcomer to the music scene. Her whimsical voice is reminiscent of France Gal, harking back to the glory days of French cinema. If God Help the Girl, the film, is looking for inspiration from Truffaut and Goddard they have definitely got the voice to do it. The music is whimsical and daisy, like a colourful pop opera where the stars smoke cigarettes in posh Parisian bars and their pores remain flawless. It’s a very joyous celebration, and if there is never a film to complete the project Murdoch’s own fantastic storytelling is a journey all on it’s own.
Nick
June 25th, 2009 at 12:17 am
Great review and I agree with a lot of it. But I have to mention I think comparing her voice to France Gall’s is misleading. Even though I prefer Gall’s work to this project, I think Catherine is a more competent singer. It’s also a completely different tone. Catherine’s is very crisp and bell-like, whereas France’s was more throaty and girly. Gall was not connected to the French New Wave cinema scene, so I don’t know if perhaps you are thinking of someone else. I think you’re right, though, that God Help The Girl conjures things like French cinema.