Adem
Homesongs
(Domino Records 29/03/04)

At the risk of sounding like an extract from a low key and clichéd horror story; there are strange and interesting things coming out of the Fridge lately. Kieran Hebden has recently dazzled, impressed and confused listeners simultaneously with an instrumental packed, music equivalent of modern art in his latest project; Four Tet. Now Adem Illhan comes out with a polished and soothing, yet mournful and

reflective solo offering, but don’t go expecting a soap opera come Stone Roses style fall out between ex band members, as this album was mixed by Mr. Kieran Hebden himself and he seems supportive of Adem’s foray into album making. Adem’s compelling yet slightly haunting Roddy Woomble style vocals and tingling instrumentals provides a soothing and compelling six minute plus wrestle with the topic of friendship in ‘These are your friends’. The acoustic fuelled and upbeat ‘Everything you need’ shows that Adem is composed and relaxed, a feeling that soon transfers into the mind of the listener.

Adem seems to have settled down from his experimental space/art rock days he spent with the Fridge, but far from being the usual morbid and insipid offering that usually accompanies many solo project from a former protagonist of an exciting band; ‘Homesongs’ is chill out music at its best and also makes you think. ‘There Will Always Be’ provides a glittery and tingling end to a well thought out album. Most importantly, this album will cement in the mind of many critics how talented the Fridge were and that it is by no way a tragedy that they have all gone there separate ways, maybe they needed to in order to bring some much needed variety to a music scene that sorely needed it?

www.adem.tv
www.dominorecordco.com

Catch Adem on tour this spring;

Wednesday 28th - Liquid Rooms, Edinburgh - Supporting Fairport Convention for the Triptych festival
Thursday 29th - The Tramway, Glasgow - Supporting Super Furry Animals for the Triptych festival
Monday 3rd - Bar 36, Sunderland - Supporting Explosions in the Sky
Tuesday 4th - Leadmill, Sheffield - Supporting Explosions in the Sky
Wednesday 5th - Zodiac, Oxford - Supporting Explosions in the Sky
Thursday 6th - Academy 3 (Hop & Grape), Manchester - Supporting Explosions in the Sky
Monday 10th - Wedgewood, Portsmouth - Supporting Explosions in the Sky
Tuesday 11th - Electric Ballroom, London - Supporting Explosions in the Sky

Tareck Ghoneim