No Need To Worry About Me

Sylver Tongue “Hook You Up”

Don’t be fooled by the name – Sylver Tongue is not some new artist, but actually long term Fluxblog favorite Charlotte Hatherley. It was probably a good idea for her to rebrand – it’s incredibly hard to sell solo artists who don’t use some kind of stage name, and even harder when you’ve got three solo albums to your name that could be charitably described as “marginally successful.” (But absolutely brilliant!) The name change is pragmatic, I’m sure, but it’s also something that marks a significant change in direction, as – at least in this debut single – Hatherley has set aside her guitar in favor of layered, twinkling keyboard parts.

“Hook You Up” isn’t too far off from the glossy art pop of Hatherley’s second album, The Deep Blue, but the lack of guitar lends the music a floatier, less physical quality. It actually reminds me a lot of Prefab Sprout’s lovely “Wild Horses,” which has a similar vibe and melody on the verses. It wouldn’t surprise me at all if Hatherley was a Prefab Sprout fan, so I wonder if this new project will end up leaning more sophistipop than synthpop. I’m rooting for the former.

Visit the Sylver Tongue website.