Feather & Dust by Beverly Girl (Album)

Beverly Girl’s debut, ‘Feather & Dust’, sees the Finnish four-piece traipsing into a musical space that was previously left unoccupied

elsinki group Beverly Girl have been creating ripples for the last two years, following the release of their debut EP. Described by Flow Festival as being one of the most original and potent newcomers to the Finish music scene, the four piece sit in a musical space left previously unoccupied. That space being between the funky pop of Thriller-era Michael Jackson and the synth soaked electronica of Depeche Mode.

Opener One wastes no time in making this point. Built upon a superb bassline that the king of pop himself would have been thrilled by, it throbs potently and has atmospherics that clatter with the thud of a pinball ambling around its table. Imbued with a wanton nature, it’s a hollow soul who’s not pulled towards the dancefloor by its qualities.

Comprised of such infectious intentions, it would be foolish for Beverly Girl to depart quickly from this template. Thankfully In The Street and Go With What You’ve Got tread the same sensual lines, with the latter number sounding like the backdrop to Dave Gahan swaying his snake hips. Further highlights include the slow and sensual Together We Stand and Across The Floor, each of which draw The xx away from the far corners of their bedrooms and into the bed itself.

Though it does sometimes feel that Beverly are guilty of self-replication – Move O,n for instance is desperately close to One – the overall vibe of the record neither suggests nor insists upon a change of tack.

One of Feather & Dust’s most endearing qualities is its eight track numbering. Beverly Girl are confident enough in their abilities, that they don’t need to stretch out their songwriting into a mass of fatty matter. Instead it’s a preening, vogue adorning synth-funk Kate Moss, one laced with leather and thick eyeliner.

Verdict: Funk-addled synth pop

Damien Girling

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