PETER LACEY ~ PERMANENT WAVE

This excellent new CD was recorded during the summer of 2006 in the multi-talented Mr. Lacey's presumably fairly capacious loft, and the contents are, as usual, subtly memorable. Peter's previous albums have revealed a capacity to create intelligently crafted pop music that's sadly all too rare these days, and this beguiling character excels himself here with stand-out tracks such as 'Miss Tere', 'Book of Days' and 'Many Moons Ago'.

Reviewed by Kevin Bryan, UK

When Peter Lacey released his first album, his music was most often compared to that of Brian Wilson - mainly because it was mainly piano driven and had layers of superb harmony. However, with each passing release he sets the bar higher and higher, often leaving the listener wondering if he can surpass his last effort. With Permanent Wave, Lacey's 5th album, he has truly come into his own - creating what is possibly his best work so far. Lacey's vocals come across with more confidence, and his melodies are the strongest he's yet written. One of the best things about Peter Lacey's music (besides the great melodies) is his innate talent for picking just the right arrangement for his songs. So you never have to wonder how it would sound with more/less instrumentation or harmony, etc. It just sounds "right".

While this album is "classic Peter Lacey" in sound and is instantly recognizable as his style, there is a surprisingly heavy dose of drums and (electric) guitar. So, ultimately you get almost a "progressive" Peter Lacey album, with a surprising amount of almost heavy rock songs, along with a great mix of ballads, thought-inspiring instrumentals, and some of the catchiest melodies short of Lennon/McCartney/Wilson. And with 15 great songs to chose from, I'll just pick a few highlights. 'Miss Tere' is a quiet masterpiece, if it wasn't for Peter's distinct voice, you would swear it was a Paul McCartney song! (But it is definitely better than any melody Paul McCartney has written since 1989!). The most pop-sounding song is 'Surround Sound', with its touches of psychedelia with backwards guitars. 'Many Moons Ago' has got to be my all-time favorite Peter Lacey song and one of the most beautiful songs I've heard in years. If there is one song on this album that you have to hear, this is it! More proof of Lacey's mastery of melody. If you want to blow the mind of any jaded friends who claim that there is nothing good in today's music - look no further than Permanent Wave, it is the pinnacle of Lacey's brilliance so far and will make a true believer out of anyone.

Reviewed in Ear Candy by Ronnie Dannelley, USA

Awash In New Sounds
By John Lane

And so we start 2007 with Peter Lacey's 5th offering, Permanent Wave — a subtle, sublime bang. The title itself suggests Lacey's continual oceanic & rustic preoccupations that have dominated his previous albums. For those unfamiliar with Peter Lacey's body of work, the sweet relief I offer to you is the knowledge that you can step inside at any point of his career and not be disappointed. The thread of his craftsmanship is constant and dedicated — "permanent", if you will; acute attention to the pop song as something indelible and worthy of repeated experiences. It is fair to say that Permanent Wave plays to Lacey's strengths: the ear for melody and the requisite harmonies. If his Songs From A Loft from 2005 was an inhalation of breath, then Permanent Wave is the artist exhaling. There's more fight, less lilt to this one; Lacey revisits some comfort zones and completely redecorates, thankfully rearranging expectations. 'First Port Of Call' opens the album with a gentle pomp-and-circum-stance combo of acoustic guitar and brass sounds (it can be done!). Instrumentally, Lacey's talent has never been in doubt — but it's nice to hear an album opener that sounds, frankly, un-Lacey-esque. From there follows 'Book Of Days' — and again, let me put it pure and simply: Peter Lacey has always had the unerring knack for putting The Big Single on each one of his albums, and damn if he hasn't done it again.

Smooth vocals are augmented by some refined shredding and punchy percussion — it's all locked into place perfectly, and I curse the deejay who doesn't have the brains to put this on his/her new playlist. The close contender, or maybe it's equal, is 'Surround Sound' — the build-up drone is pure rock. Just when you think you know Peter Lacey, four albums in, he throws these welcome curveballs. For the fans who have been riding the Lacey Express since 2000's debut of Beam!, then you can clearly see we're in the same expansive, imaginative wonderland with songs like 'Caravel', 'The Land, The Sea, The Sky', and 'Many Moons Ago' addressing consistent thematic threads in Lacey's oeuvre. One senses that he's a sunnier Van Gogh, painting that surfy-pastoral landscape in his mind and in view until it becomes something he can make his own. The closer 'Permanent Wave, Farewell' is a cheeky enough title but it ranks as a favorite of mine for its playful, Steely-Dan-esque groove. At this album's close, this listener feels like he's sat through a rather epic project although it clocks in at 45 minutes. 'Permanent Wave, Farewell' is that exhaling I mentioned previously when the credits roll and we leave feeling uplifted. A sort of joyful melancholy has permeated previous Lacey albums but this work feels like a New Year's Resolution for which I can't quite name (stubborn optimism?) — suffice to say, make it yours as well.

Reviewed at The Smile Shop by John Lane, UK

‘First Port Of Call' is a promising opening, an overture of sorts, setting the scene perfectly for that distinctive Lacey guitar sound. Many memorable moments follow from the tightly structured enchantingly familiar ‘Book Of Days’ through the charming ‘Miss Tere’ (I was just thinking this would have made a nice replacement for some of the rather uninspiring stuff on Paul McCartney’s Chaos And Creation - it’s very much in the Macca style) to the aptly named ‘Sublime’ with The Beach Boys layered harmonies and warm studio echo accompanied as always by ex Jade Warrior Jon Fielder on keyboards. Still to come is the heavy psych rock of ‘Surround Sound’. The bass and guitar treatments are pure White Album Beatles and who else would use the word "omnibus" in a song? ‘Many Moons Ago’ is again pure Macca, an acoustic feast of folk inflected pop with a slightly nasal vocal delivery (evident at places throughout the album) he has made his own - a haunting commodity! ‘Caravel’ is a much needed "orchestral" instrumental interlude with a cowbell led "break", guitar in one speaker, synth in the other. Lacey is also a bit of a wordsmith as you’ll hear on the lengthy pilgrim’s progress tale ‘Peter The Chanter’. ‘Lines And Squares’ has a Latin Steely Dan feel while ‘The Land, The Sea, The Sky’ has a very 60s Bacharach vibe with some nice brass courtesy of John Williams. (The instrumental backing is completed here and there by Ralph Willey on drums). ‘The Common Place’ has a touch of the Stevie Wonders, an effect even more evident on ‘Hey Rose’. I’ve cited a lot of classy influences because Peter Lacey is a class act who soaks up influences to take the listener on a lush and lavish musical journey that never ceases to amaze.

Reviewed in Zeitgeist by Phil Jackson, UK

I didn’t get around to reviewing this in time for my Festive 30 of 2006 but include it as my first album of the month for 2007. I would also like to take this opportunity to wish that "small but perfectly formed" record label Pink Hedgehog all the best for 2007 following the favourable review of Anton Barbeau’s Drug Free in The Times. It’s also pleasing to note favourable reviews of Peter Lacey’s work in Uncut and Record Collector magazines. Anyone who is unfamiliar with Pink Hedgehog Records should go to www.pinkhedgehog.com and acquaint themselves with label head Simon Felton immediately! Macca, The Beatles, The Beach Boys, Steely Dan, Stevie Wonder, Burt Bacharach - I’ve cited a lot of classy influences in my review for Zeitgeist because Peter Lacey is a class act who soaks up influences to take the listener on a lush and lavish musical journey that never ceases to amaze. iPod/ MP3 choices: 'Surround Sound' (Is this an outtake from The White Album ?), 'Peter The Chanter' (Try to work out what it’s all about!), 'Caravel' (It’s great to hear an instrumental break - Peter’s music needs more of these to make it even more perfect!)

Reviewed at Paradox One by Phil Jackson, UK