ROCK SOUND
Something Tells Me ( You'd Be Good For Me ) manages to strike up hope and release those warm sunbeams after a rainstorm, with soft harmonies, lounge keyboards and bright guitars. Waiting expands the effect into swaying violins and female backing vocals. Both tracks have incredible structure and the cleanest sound. Something to lose yourself in when in need of soothing.
Astrid Harders
CHANNEL 4 TELETEXT
...and here's 2003's first unexpected treat. Almost as succulent at harmonies as touring partners Reindeer Section. Trust us, that's ever such great praise..
Nipping out for a quick celebrity intermission, though continuing to wave our scarf with the word "poignancy!" embroidered neatly on it, we smack up to the latest single from one Alan Kelly or, as he prefers to style himself in spite of the absence of any bugles, The Last Post, whose Something Tells Me (You'd Be Good For Me) emerges on in a flurry of sleigh bells, luvvly luvvly guitars, and fling-yourself-in-slow-motion-onto-a-bouncy-castle vocals. We see him swaying affectionately in a big fluffy coat, and that's even before we get to B-side Waiting, which gets even yearnier even before the implausibly grandiose strings make their appearance, and the suspicion that Dry Land, the soon-come-album, is going to see us leaving tear-stained buckets all around the office is a very real one indeed. Irish Richard Hawley, anyone? Oh God yes.
Limited edition 7" Vinyl release from a band who are "part of the emerging Dublin underground". If the other bands make music like this it must be a real barrel of laughs down by the river as this is melancholic romanticism at it's best. "Maybe in time you'll love me, you just don't know me at all yet" frontman Alan Kelly goes, and part of you hopes she doesn't, just in case it helps him carry on making music like this. Recommended listening for the recently broken hearted. Or just anyone with a heart.
9/10 Reviewed By Peter Mattinson
www.bleed-music.com
Rather better is an unassuming piece of plastic from Dublin's The Last Post, previously seen taking the stage in support of Love and The Reindeer Section. The double-A action of Something Tells Me (You'd Be Good For Me) / Waiting is sweet in a way that makes you think of beautiful quiet girls (or boys) that were only ever worshipped from afar. Or possibly just peers like Snow Patrol.
The latest exports from the burgeoning Irish Underground that has already thrown David Kitt and The Frames our way, The Last Post are easily dismissed as purveyors of the pastoral fantasy pop minted by their labelmates The Reindeer Section. Close your eyes though and a lush, emerald landscape wobbles into view: lush, featherlight melodies scud across a deep blue sky while happy people sing happy songs. It could so easily descend into a sickly-sweet sugar rush, held back from the edge by a liberal helping of quirky harmonising that Brian Wilson would envy. It's 50% Mull Historical Society, 50% Buffseeds and 100% Last Post. G. Nash
Had Mark Morriss been evacuated from Hounslow to Dublin during the Britpop-blitz and force-fed Divine Comedy, The Last Post would be out of a job. As it is, 'multi instrumentalist' Alan Kelly croons lushly about the vagaries of love on Something... and just about gets away with it. Next to Alan, Mark Owen has the vitriolic rage of the young Johnny Rotten and Ainslie from Lame Academy is a psychotic Iggy Pop.
Time Out
...The Last Post, who deal in gentle, sumptuos pop.
Record Collector
We're sorry, but there's a good voice at the centre of this fey little offering, there really is. It's just unbelievably hard to discern among all the half-paced and half-arsed Jim'll Fix It theme stomping. There's plenty of Beach Boys harmonising and the general feel of a band that know what they want to sound like, but a little more bite wouldn't hurt.
Jake Kennedy
When sipping Cristal in some of the more exclusive establishments of this city i'm occasionally obliged to sit in the company of some newer Irish artists whose music leaves me as cold as a snowman's knob. Of course i don't let on. Thank God then for this heartfelt, honest, unpretentious slice of adult-pop that actually says something about modern life and love, and not a goatee-bearded idiot banking a bicycle frame with a toasting fork in sight.
Stephen Robinson
Live Reviews
THE ART OF PARTYING:WONKY 2
Special occasions, like this one,after all, call for grand gestures - and the irish artists have risen to this playful challenge beautifully. The Last Post nearly upstage their own (gorgeous) set by supplying not only a string section, but a nine-piece brass band in full dress uniform and black plumed hats."
Kim Porcelli
Home/Away live review,Katy Daly's,Belfast
No dancing in katy daley's is the sunday night haunt of belfast music fans. The crowd nurse end of the weekend consolation pints, their faces lit by the glow of hundreds of fairy lights that turn on and off at random. The atmosphere is of subdued camaraderie-like a family gathering only the bond of music is thicker than water.
The Last Post quietly make a start on what passes for a stage. It's a few seconds before the buzz of conversation dies down but slowly the unobtrusive music draws attention, enchanting and absorbing every corner of the room. Alan kelly on guitar is accompanied by the barest of drumbeats and the surest of harmonies. On record the songs barely manage to hold themselves together. Fragile with spaces, the music constantly feels on the verge of collapsing in on itself. Live, Kelly draws delicate breaths from his fender guitar-inspirations and expirations separated by silence when you wonder will the music ever return.
The sweet intertwining of male and female harmonies carries the trademark last post melancholy lyrics.on opening song Good Things Don't Last For Long Kelly sings "i don't mind the pain" and you know you had that feeling. Silence Seems To Say... is all heartbreak and longing without ever being cliched or pathetic and the gorgeous crooning signs on 'Something Tells Me' are fit to caress the most tired soul. And for a band that recall Parsons and Wilson in their hopelessness and harmonies, the Dublin accent is charmingly clear in 'Waiting'-"no one told me it could feel 'dis' way again."
Granted there's nothing particularly new or adventurous about The Last Post. It's the same bittersweet sentiments of love lost and found that have been doing the rounds forever. But unassuming beauty should never be discouraged and tonight demonstrated that those songs that make perfect lonesome headphone listening stand up just as well to live scrutiny.
HELEN TOLAND
....The Last Post are the perfect setting for the lovelorn songs of one Alan Kelly, perhaps the most under-rated but gifted songwriter in the country...."
Irish News
...Headlining the evening will be Dublin act The Last Post, who have been setting hearts and ears a-quiver recently with their melancholically mellow charms. The man behind their music is Alan Kelly. A reclusive musical genius and formerly of the band In Motion, Kelly is also the guy who sang on the sublime Asteroids EP (written and produced by that other reclusive Dublin maestro, Andrew Lyster) which nine out of 10 critics have labelled a subtle masterpiece of almost unending reward.
So far, The Last Post have managed to squeeze out one LP, last year's much adored Love Lost, and a few limited edition singles. The latest of these is the double A-side seven-inch, Something Tells Me (You'd Be Good For Me) / Waiting, slated to appear in December in advance of the second album, Dry Land. The Band are on their first proper tour at the moment, following supports to The Reindeer Section, Love and James Yorkeston and The Athletes, and tonight's gig will be the first chance for us Northerners to see what the full band can do live...
David Roy
So it's been reviewed in the event guide before but precious few seem to be writing about it or playing it. Maybe a lot to do with the fact it's on 7" vinyl. If you still own a record player and like 'indie' (or country-pop even-ed) music (it's not too loud, mind you) seek this out - they've come on leaps and bounds since their debut. If dj's Dineen, Dunne, Kelly and Fanning are reading, get it on the turntable, Irish music is poor enough without us passing over the good stuff.
Dave Roberts
Even better than their debut Weight of the world 7inch, this time The Last Post deliver iridescent country melancholia, subtle scions of distorted guitars and Alan Kelly's majestically resonant pop voice.
Leagues
Three tracks on glorious 7" vinyl signals the return of Alan Kelly, once singer with much missed dublin indie kids In Motion. The A-side, you belong here is a simple sparse affair with just a piano and a drum loop complimenting kelly's unique vocal range. Whilst still taking his cue from This Mortal Coil and The Cocteau Twins, Kelly remains a unique and rare talent. Single of the fortnight, B-sides of the fortnight, format of the fortnight and sleeve of the fortnight.glorious.'
Dave Roberts
This is the second single from the ex-vocalist with In Motion, Alan Kelly. The music and almost all the instruments are played by the man himself and the label is run by him aswell so respect must be due. The music this time has a slightly country tinge to it with some really lush piano and Alans soft vocal tones. A rather beautiful love song. 3 tracks in total which for some reason continues to remind me of 'The Dream Academy', which is not a bad thing. Limited to only 200 copies.'
Via Dolorosa: A new indie label has just been set up by ex vocalist with In Motion and he has just released his debut solo 3 track ep on 7" vinyl. His new venture goes under the title of The Last Post and the single is one of the most delicious ventures into indie pop that I have heard in many years. With a slightly late 80's feel to it I think fans of the likes of Sarah Records and their sound are going to love this one. Equiped with just a piano, a guitar and an extraordinary voice this is one to collect and totally adore. Buy this single or I will personally call around to your house and kill you.