United in a desire to provide warm, inviting, melodic, challenging, fresh music. The 4 dashing young blades armed only with a collection of high maintenance, but hugely loveable old synths, tape delays, Wurlitzers, harmoniums, drums, ukuleles and guitars stride proudly out to battle – confident that the truth will out, and that once again music can provide inspiration and comfort.
Variously described as sounding like Penguin Cafe Orchestra meets Fela Kuti / Sonic Youth playing nursery rhymes / Sci Fi Folk / Sufjan Stevens in
A live dose of Lucky Elephant also comes highly recommended – unusual instruments, French interludes, uplifting melodies and large bass lines all combine to cause internal happiness of the highest order. This combination has seen the band play at venues as diverse as the wonderful Bestival on the
The foundation of any band should start from the drummer, and in the rhythmically named Lawrence Clack, Lucky Elephant have a unique platform on which to build. The man plays drums like a piano – the beats become tunes. We think he was grown in a petris dish in a laboratory with equal parts Buddy
Just in time for summer come the sun soaked melodies of Sunday Best newcomers Lucky Elephant and their debut album Star Sign Trampoline, released on 20th July.
Recorded from start to finish on 2” analogue tape, Star Sign Trampoline is a lovingly produced and naturally resonant debut. While the organic melodies and warm vintage instrumentation of Lucky Elephant might echo fellow Isle of Wight ex-pats The Bees, it is the cultural struggles and urban melancholia within that truly defines Lucky Elephant. Amidst the burr of sun blasted echo tapes, Wurlitzer, and Harmonium, French vocalist Manu plays with images of a rural idyll juxtaposed with the reality of a metropolitan home.
“The vision has always been about urban living, fast living, modern living and the ticking struggle it creates…” explains Manu, “but beneath all that, it feels a lot more about how we want to live our lives Vs how we have been biologically programmed to live them.”
The eponymous opening track is a sublime ray of musical sunshine, skipping along on its organ hook – sounding for all the world like the theme of a forgotten children’s TV show – an early indication of Lucky Elephant’s ear for a tune. Charming, intricate melodies run beneath the surreal plasticine storytelling of Reverend Tilsley & His Magic Lantern and the sparkling guitar line of Edgar, the album’s lead single and a guaranteed highlight of this summer’s two Bestivals.
Elsewhere, there is the reverby clatter of Modern Life, Changing People and the pastoral The Beginning as Manu strikes upon poignant issues of urban living and the call of the wild. And amid Lucky Elephant’s jaunty hooks and rhythms stands the epic The Pier, an ode to Manu’s seaside upbringing in France, and the coming commercial tide.
* Lead single Edgar / Lucky Elephant is released July 6th on Sunday Best *
Emmanuel ‘Manu’ Labescat - Vocals / melodica
Sam Johnson - Guitar / Wurlitzer / Piano
Paul Burnley - synth bass / harmonium
Laurence Clack - drums