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Dave Couse - 'Genes'
 This is not the next instalment of A-House, this is the first album by a new
artist, Dave Couse, and after the first listen this is what struck me most
about the record. The beautiful cynicism of Ireland's greatest was nowhere to
be seen, the unbridled optimism of 'satisfaction' the seemingly premature
ending of 'at the end of the day' and the complete emotional turnaround of
'will it ever stop raining?' had left my head reeling, and I was still only
three tracks in.,
I don’t know what I was expecting but it certainly wasn’t this, A House took
no shit and made music for themselves, that’s why so many people my age hold
them in such high regard, with Genes Couse has made a record primarily for
himself but whether by fortune or design he has somehow managed to include
the whole of humanity in the party, everyone I’ve played the album to has
ended up with an inane grin by at least track four, the soon to be pop
classic 'familiar feeling' .
The last record to make me this giddy with excitement was Pavement’s
Brighten the Corners, before that probably The Housemartins’ London 0 Hull
4, that’s not to say that Dave has gone all 'fractured' or 'whimsy' on us
but there is an unbelievably positive twist to even the albums darker tracks
like 'for sale' or 'peaceful', to put it simply, the lows are bearable, the
highs are intense.
Putting my critics hat on I would have to say that there is no weak track on
the 13 that make up Genes (12 + John Cale cover), taking that same hat off
and burning it I will say that this as close to a perfect album that can be
made while still remaining mortal, the first true classic of ’03, Pure
Genius.
Ashley '03.
About the Author
Ashley is the drummer with the Frank & Walters. He also presents
a radio show on Campus Radio 97.4 fm Mondays 2-3p.m and co-presents
Green on Red Suday evenings (7- 10 pm) Red Fm 104-106pm.
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