Lucky Elephant

Starsign Trampoline Sunday Best Recordings ***

Until The Bees showed up in the last decade, it was left to bass- slappers Level 42 to fly the flag for the Isle of Wight. Lucky Elephant (thankfully) have more in common with the former, serving up tunes that start out as feckless and feelgood. Instrumental opener Lucky Elephantborrows a classic 1960s keys/percussion combo of harmonium and vibraphone. Edgar, a skittish ode that smacks of early Badly Drawn Boy, introduces the distinctive Gallic nasal drawl of singer Manu. The album mood then dips abruptly with a lament to declining coastal towns, and the summery premise evaporates. While there's plenty to recommend from less exuberant tracks ( Red Ties vs the Bees, Time Bomb), the odd mix of moods feels like the wind dropping in the sails. They've got rolling piano and funked-up percussion down pat – pity there's not more of it. www.myspace.com/ luckyelephantmusic

Download Tracks:Edgar, Reverend Tilsley and His Magic Lantern