Singular rhyming structures and the implicit nature of quality from uniqueness are the foundation for Long Live the Strange. Another track from Gaz Coombes of Supergrass acclaim as the hat-wearing music man looks to release his first solo record in five years. There is a decent quality to the electricity that roams through Long Live the Strange, a piece that is as effectively broad and solid as to be expected from a frontman once again heading off into the field on his own. Results are often shaky or insecure, but there is a solidification of reflective messaging here that works as a charming, light pop riff.
Unfortunately, Long Live the Strange, as anthemic as it tries to be, does not manage to push through as much more than a solid indie pop riff. Channelling his inner Brett Anderson in the latter moments, rattling off mystifying bits of wordplay that do not quite connect with the music around him, Coombes is trying something a little different. Whether it is out of his comfort zone is beside the point. Coombes has still retained his voice, that is the most important part of any artist’s longevity as they traipse through the minefield of solo works after successful band work. Long Live the Strange does not show much difference to that of the Supergrass B-Sides, and it would certainly work as one with its reflections and simpler rhyming wordplay.
“What doesn’t kill you / makes you stranger” sticks out like a sore thumb. A very simple but effective reworking of that classic saying into something broad enough to work on a track lamenting the sameness of life, but also broad enough to be infuriatingly dull and vague. That is a tightrope walk for much of this track, and while Long Live the Strange is not a bad piece of music, it would be difficult to remember what it does and how it goes about doing it. Instrumental strength is fundamental to this track and as simple as it is, it strikes through with some heavy guitar work that keeps the song together. If it were not for that, listeners would be relying on lyrics alone. A scary thought.
Completely acceptable and a bit behind the times, Coombes’ latest track feels like a riff from The Hoosiers but is formed well by the presence of a strong vocal run. Coombes has held onto those vocal charms for some time, and that is far more impressive than the lyrics found on his latest single. It is the obvious radio choice, the broadly forgettable if catchy piece that, through habit alone, audiences return themselves to. That is not the worst identifiable feature of this track but it is certainly present, lingering in the background hoping to hook the brain on a relatively simple, electric guitar track and repetitive drumming that never moves beyond support for the singer. There is an inherent importance to the simplicity of Long Live the Strange, but that importance finds itself playing ball with broader and bigger singles year by year.
