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Orlando Weeks - Hop Up
3-5 StarsIt might be that Orlando Weeks needed to be shorn of his guitars before we could really find out what he was capable of as a songwriter. Still in its infancy, his solo career to date has been a beguiling one. He already put a fair bit of clear blue water between himself and his past life in The Maccabees last summer, when he released ‘A Quickening’, a soft, minimalist collection in the mould of Mark Hollis’ self-titled solo album, or the quieter side of How To Dress Well, all undulating synths and flickers of piano beneath Orlando’s inimitable gentle croon as he reflected on the realities of impending parenthood. On this quick-fire follow-up, the tempo is kicked up a notch, in keeping with the subject matter; if he was nervous about becoming a father on ‘A Quickening’, he’s celebratory about it on ‘Hop Up’, an album defined by its warm textures, and melodically indebted to eighties synthpop. The sunnier side of Tears for Fears hangs over ‘Look Who’s Talking Now’, while his domestic contentment radiates out of the glacial ‘High-Kicking’ and the chirpy ‘Hey You Hop Up’. Occasionally, the strict adherence to a minimalist palette threatens to become much of a muchness, but there’s enough tweaks to the formula - honeyed backing vocals from Katy J Pearson on ‘Big Skies, Silly Faces’, for instance - to keep things interesting. This is an irresistibly likeable album, very much in the mould of its creator’s affable, mellow personality.
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Albums of 2022: Orlando Weeks
‘A Quickening’ found the former Maccabee ruminating on the more pensive aspects of parenthood. ‘Hop Up’ follows to show the more joyful side of the coin with a record rooted in lightness and pleasure.
1st December 2021, 9:46am
Orlando Weeks shares new single ‘Bigger’
Lifted from his forthcoming sophomore solo album ‘Hop Up’.
23rd November 2021, 12:00am
Orlando Weeks announces November underplay dates
The run of intimate shows comes before his March headline tour.
11th October 2021, 12:00am
Orlando Weeks announces new album ‘Hop Up’
And he's sharing new single 'Look Who's Talking Now' to celebrate.
22nd September 2021, 12:00am
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