Turn the Car Around

by Gaz Coombes

Overview

The title Turn the Car Around could be interpreted as Gaz Coombes making a sideways nod to the Supergrass reunion that followed in the wake of his 2018 album World's Strongest Man: now that he's gotten that giddy nostalgia out of his system, it's time to return to his solo career. Certainly, Turn the Car Around is of a piece with World's Strongest Man and Matador, a pair of records that found Coombes in a reflective, meditative mood, albums that deliberately avoid the exuberance of Supergrass. What makes this 2023 album different than its predecessors is that there's considerable freedom of movement within its careful confines. Coombes spikes the slinky groove of "Feel Loop (Lizard Dream)" with some gnarled guitar, "Don't Say It's Over" floats with cinematic psychedelic grace, there's glam grit at the heart of "Long Live the Strange," and "This Love" actually flirts with an impish propulsion. These subtle shifts of texture put the statelier numbers into perspective, lending a sense of earned drama to the miniature pop epics of "Sonny the Strong" and "Dance On." Coombes remains a rocker in repose, avoiding the temptation to make a racket, yet Turn the Car Around carries a sense of adventure that World's Strongest Man lacked, which ultimately makes it a richer listen. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Product Details

Release Date:	01/13/2023
Label:	Virgin
UPC:	0602445955343
Rank:	65552

Tracks

1. Overnight Trains
2. Don't Say It's Over
3. Feel Loop (Lizard Dream)
4. Long Live the Strange
5. Not the Only Things
6. Turn the Car Around
7. This Love
8. Sonny the Strong
9. Dance On

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Gaz Coombes   Primary Artist,Bass,Drums,Piano,Guitar,Violin,Vocals,Percussion,Synthesizer
Piney Gir   Vocals (Background)
Nick Fowler   Bass,Guitar,Guitar (Bass),Guitar (Electric)
Garo Nahoulakian   Bass,Piano,Guitar,Shaker,Percussion,Tambourine,Guitar (Bass),Guitar (Electric)
Loz Colbert   Drums
Mike Monaghan   Congas,Percussion
Emma Brammer   Vocals (Background)
Tomas Greenhalf   Saxophone
Amy Ashworth   Vocals (Background)
Willie J Healey   Vocals (Background)

Technical Credits

Gaz Coombes   Mixing,Composer,Producer,Synthesizer Programming
Steve Stacey   Design
Matt Colton   Mastering
Ian Davenport   Mixing,Producer
Garo Nahoulakian   Piano Arrangement
Tom Cockram   Photography