Back in 2000, Day One released a real gem of a record with ‘Ordinary Man’. It was a mixture of stories of modern life set against a backdrop of hip-hop, folk and pop textures. Thanks to vocalist Phelim Byrne’s Americanised vocals and the often odd instrumentation (including a strange fondness flutes) provided by Matthew Hardwidge, not many bands have sounded like this since. All the more reason therefore for Day One to finally release a second record. Sensibly it doesn’t differ much from the original formula.
The flavour throughout is colourful, ‘Cosmopolita’ uses an appropriately global arrangement. The album drifts by in very amiable fashion but tracks like ‘Feet Firmly On The Ground’ and ‘The Little Things’ with their flute-assisted melodies don’t really catch fire. The album steps up a gear later on for ‘Now I’m A Little Older’, an introspective number and the first to send a shiver down the spine, ‘Money’ with its tagline of “Money gets in the way of life” may paint broad strokes in terms of subject matter but it’s a memorable hook-filled song whilst ‘Who Owns The Rain?’ revels in string-laden melancholia. So although the killer moments are a bit thin on the ground, it’s good to have them back.
Samples can be heard on The Day One Myspace Site
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