July 11, 1998

Soft Explosives

Pop purity but not as we know it. Not the corporate-enhanced snowdriven purity of Wet Wet Wet or the studied, perverse purity of the Pet Shop Boys...

7 / 10 POP PURITY BUT NOT AS WE KNOW IT. NOT the corporate-enhanced snowdriven purity of Wet Wet Wet or the studied, perverse purity of the Pet Shop Boys. Oh no, Butterfly Child proffer virtue that appears so effortless you'd be tempted to believe that Joe Cassidy - the major force behind the Child - merely exhales these celestial vignettes in his sleep. With a little help from a night nurse that doubles up as a sympathetic string section dispatched from heaven's own pit, of course.

There is not a big idea behind 'Soft Explosives' or, indeed, any previous BC mini-classics dating back to '91. Just a liberal helping of goodwill translated into songs designed to uplift. Cassidy is one of that rare breed of songsmiths who love to share their musical inspiration rather than piss it from a great height.

It's all there on the whimsical 'Drunk On Beauty', the classical affectations of '1929' or the near a cappella of 'Zeppelin Catches Fire At Speed' and doesn't drop its guard throughout the album. 'Soft Explosives' picks up on pop's finest, most vulnerable and human moments, filters out the tweeness and ends up sounding like the kind of music helpless romantics watch sunsets to. Just after their partner has run off with their best mate. And the ache is so deep it rumbles.

Welcome to the world of sob-pop. Hankies at the ready.