If previous single Bittersweet Bundle of Misery was his Coffee and TV then Spectacular is Graham Coxon's M.O.R. as he once again takes the core elements he brought to Blur and scrapes away any residue of their sheen, gloss and polish.
This leaves us with a rougher, pared down sound made up of gritty, braying guitars, punchy drums and Coxon's punky wailing. A simple chorus that quickly hooks itself into the memory and a ragged, almost live style of delivery also contribute to the overall grungey, homemade feel - a no-frills approach also reflected in the hand-drawn cartoon cover-art. Coxon's roots may be evidently obvious, his past life clear for all to hear, but his future certainly does not appear to be heading into a u-turn as is often rumoured.
This is the assured, upbeat sound of a man thoroughly enjoying expressing his creative freedom. Surely something Coxon will be keen to hold on to, not relinquish purely for old times sake. To call this truly spectacular would not be entirely accurate though, but pretty damn good would be a fair summation of this short, infectiously energetic romp.
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