Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds

It is relatively safe to assert without (too much) retribution that before the band's implosion, Oasis was akin to a stagnant pool atop a fairly mediocre plateau.  Noel more than anyone would have ultimately been grateful for the break-up, as it has now given him the creative freedom to do what he likes without having his irritating little brother buzzing in his ear.  High Flying Birds is the very embodiment of that freedom come to life, and while the influences of the past are undeniable, and indeed wholeheartedly pepper almost every song, it is the best of that past that comes to mind.

The first track on the album, Everybody's On The Run will undoubtedly be opening sets at stadiums around the world for years to come for that's what it has been seemingly designed for.  That's of course no bad thing as it's the older of the Gallagher brothers who is known for the really symbolic gestures of anthemic rock.You can imagine the lighters in the air and the flags fluttering in the Glastonbury breeze as it echoes over Worthy Farm along with the other sweeping rock anthems (I Wanna Live in a Dream in My) Record Machine and Stop The Clocks.

Dream On is the first of the shambling folky numbers that parade through the record which also includes the first single from the album, The Death of You And Me, and the delightfully mournful Soldier Boys and Jesus Freaks. The second single from the album, If I Had A Gun..., is as Noel himself has said, unsurprisingly more than a little akin to Oasis since it was written while he was still with the band.  Similarly AKA... Broken Arrow could have been written for Liam, and you can almost hear his voice quivering in the background, but it's (Stranded On The) Wrong Beach that really brings Oasis fans back to the good old days. The throbbing guitars and upbeat percussion is really one for the Summer and a great example of just how much fun Noel has had in making his own unique record. 

It's with AKA... What A Life! that Noel breaks away from his recognisable influences and styles and delivers something altogether more uplifting and, dare I say it, dancey. His effortlessly soaring vocal oversees an infectious piano fused with some hectic and footloose guitar work.  It leaves one wondering what else Noel could do if he put his mind to different genres.  He has made guest appearances on tracks for artists ranging from The Chemical Brothers to Goldie, so it would be interesting to see what he could do with influences that strayed further from his well-defined comfort zone that AKA... What A Life! does.

Overall the album just breathes confidence.  Noel is not trying to make a statement with Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds but merely give fans the music he knows they will enjoy.  This is a record for Oasis fans, of course, and it's impossible to ignore the influence, but it's also greatly accessible to others who just couldn't get past the arrogance and, later mediocrity, that came with the once Biggest Band In The World.  Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds is, of course, more than just the man himself. They are a band after all, and it's the work of members like session pianist Mike Rowe and former Zutons bassist Russell Pritchard that help tie everything together and underpin that accessibility.  Nor is it easy to ignore the presence of Beady Eye's debut album Different Gear Still Speeding when listening to NGHFB. But unlike Oasis-minus-one's drawn-out and often lagging effort, this doesn't try to snatch at something it feels it deserves, but nestles comfortably in the purely enjoyable musical experience borne by a seasoned professional.